The Irish Women’s Over 45s displayed the progress they have made this summer at Park Avenue this weekend when they won their two-match invitational series against the English Over-45s on Saturday and Sunday, winning 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.
The results show the improvements in the side since June when the English O-40s heavily defeated the Irish and, a couple of weeks ago, the Irish O-45s suffered a 4-0 defeat to English in Cardiff.
Such development is testament to the recruitment policy put in place since June, adding new players to the squad, and the coaching structures by the young coaching team of Benjamin Epstein and Stuart Malcolm.
On Saturday, Ireland scored early when a Maura O’Neill transfer down the right was well trapped by Joanne O’Grady. She found a defence splitting pass to Alison Pigot who beat the advancing goalkeeper, finding the roof of the net.
For the majority of the rest of the tie, Ireland were forced to defend the lead as England pushed for an equaliser. Irish goalie Sinead Guilfoyle pulled off a number of top class saves, including from a penalty stroke and defender Bronwyn O’Donnell took a corner shot off the line. England had a double figure corner count but were unable to penetrate the Irish defence, for whom Linda Jenkinson was outstanding.
In game two, a determined English team sought to overturn Saturday’s scoreline but it was Ireland who took the game to them with possession evenly shared in a much more balanced game.
Carolyn Shankey was running the Irish midfield and one penetrating run drew the English defence with O’Grady finishing off the rebound.
The English saved a penalty corner off the line to keep it 1-0 to Ireland at the break. England equalised early in the second half off a short corner rebound, though, to leave both teams to go in search of a winner, with Roly Burke and Angie Boran working hard in midfield to close down the English attacking options.
Sue Vincent created numerous attacks for the Irish with her fast driving runs and, from one of these, Pigot snatched up a rebound to flick high into the roof of the net for the 2-1 win.
These fixtures mark the end of the masters series for this season but there will be some training sessions in the autumn, including in Ulster and Munster, for all Over-40s, as they seek to extend our playing base. A programme of matches will be drawn up for next spring/summer.
Ireland squad: Sinead Guilfoyle (GK), Bronwyn O’Donnell (VC), Helen Johnston, Maura O’Neill, Linda Jenkinson, Trish Dwyer, Roly Burke, Angie Boran, Pat Stewart, Carolyn Shankey, Sue Vincent, Orla Galvin, Clare Ryan, Alison Pigot (C), Joanne O’Grady, Edwina Mulcahy, Judith Hayward.
Coaches: Benjamin Epstein, Stuart Malcolm.
Manager: Sarah Williams.