Strong performances from the England O40s and O45s against Ireland in the last day of the tournament was enough for them to retain the cups for the respective age categories.
While England retained the O50s title it was a more complex affair as they were beaten by England O55s in the morning so that they only regained the cup on goal difference, with the Irish O50s having the same number of points.
The next event for Irish Women’s Masters is the European Open (men and women) taking place in Lisnagarvey hockey club from 13th to 17th August 2013.
Words, as always, by the amazing one-woman PR machine that is Helen Johnson!
O40s
The Irish O-40s took a while to settle against Wales forcing a number of corners early on. But Ireland grew into the game scoring the first goal after 13 minutes from a Gillian Garrett deflection.
They went 2-0 ahead just before half time when Aisling Schutte scored after good work by Alison Gillan. Wales pressed in the second half but without reward and it was Ireland who increased their lead.
Garrett returned to the pitch from the sin bin and scored the goal of the game with a reverse stick shot into the top corner of the goal. Wales got a consolation goal two minutes from the end from a Tracey Bow shot but Ireland prevailed for a 3-1 win.
In game two, Irish O-40s dominated the Scottish O-40s. Halfway through the first half, Hazel Agar put them ahead when she picked up the ball and snapped home a quick shot.
They increased their lead before half time when captain Gillian Garrett scored from a penalty corner strike. They consolidated their lead further when Julie Bell pounced on a corner rebound and Ash Schutte deflected her shot over the keeper to make the final score 3-0 to Ireland.
Ireland then played England for the title as both teams entered the match on full points, though England had a better goal difference. In an evenly balanced game, England ran out 4-1 winners by virtue of their clinical finishing.
Former England and GB forward Sally Gibson (who played for England in the World Cup hosted in Dublin in 1994) scored all four of England’s goals and was the stand out player of the O40s competition.
Ireland never gave up and got a well deserved late goal. Noreen Dockery came off the bench and, making a strong supporting run from defence, connected with a baseline pull back from Julie Bell, to deflect the ball into the net.
The final placings were: 1st England (9pts); 2nd Ireland (6pts); 3rd Scotland (3pts); 4th Wales (0pts). Gillian Garrett was awarded the Irish O40s player of the tournament.
O45s
Ireland O-45s were unable to get full points against Wales. It was Ireland who made the early running going 1-0 up by half time through a Tracey Skoyles penalty corner strike.
Wales found the equaliser in the second half through a corner of their own. The hosts went ahead again through another Skoyles penalty corner but Wales again equalised when they were awarded a stroke following a heavy tackle in the circle.
Ireland pushed for the winner, with midfielder Joan Dobson leading the charge, but the score remained 2-2 at the final whistle.
he Irish O-45s had another draw on Saturday, this time against Scotland. Although Ireland dominated, the first half remained goalless. The hosts went ahead early in the second half when Belfast Harlequins’ Clare Bell found the net.
But Ireland were unable to build on the lead and Scotland equalised from a penalty corner half way through the half to end the tie 1-1.
Ireland then took on winners England looking for a good performance. Despite Ireland having the better of the opening exchanges they conceded from a deflected own goal 6 minutes into the game.
Ireland kept searching for the equaliser but half way through the second half England were awarded a disputed penalty stroke which they duly converted. Ireland were unable to convert their chances and the final result was 2-0 to England.
Final placings for the O45s were: 1st England (9pts); 2nd Wales (4pts); 3rd Ireland (2pts); 4th Scotland (1pt). Tracey Skoyles was awarded the Irish O45s player of the tournament.
O50s
The Ireland O-50s played Wales at the National Hockey Stadium and got off to a dream start when Cathy Walsh scored a brace in the first 15 minutes; the first following a perfect pass from Maggie Hunter and the second off a corner switch.
Pat Stewart increased the lead from a rebound following good work by Dee Wallace and Helen Johnston put Ireland 4-0 up by half time from a corner strike. Angie Boran got Ireland’s fifth, finding the goal from the left side of the circle. Wales did not give up and were awarded a stroke which Eirian Fox converted.
Ireland finished strong with Dymphna Hill getting a touch to score following a great run by Maureen Flavin. Ireland ran out 6-1 winners.
The Irish O-50s played two matches in Railway on Saturday, starting with a 4-0 defeat to England. If it had not been for a series of outstanding saves from goalkeeper Helen Roche, the score could have been higher than the 4-0 final result. Ireland conceded too many corners, England scoring two of these in the first half and one in the second half, consolidating their win with a strong strike towards the end of the game.
In the second match against Scotland O-50s, Scotland had the ball in the net first from a high but dangerously deflected corner shot which was not given. Soon afterwards Cathy Walsh scored from an Irish corner following a switch move – which was queried but deemed legitimate.
Scotland equalised half way through the second half from a penalty corner. The greens went ahead soon afterwards from the goal of the game when a superb turn by Ballyclare’s Dee Wallace and cross into the circle found Cork CofI’s Dymphna Hill who deflected the ball high into the net.
But the second game of the day was starting to take its toll with tired legs and Ireland were unable to hold the lead for the remaining seven minutes. Scotland equalised with a penalty corner switch and were awarded a stroke for a foot on the line two minutes from time. The Scottish stroke taker flicked it high over the bar and so the result remained 2-2.
Ireland O50s played England O55s looking for a win that would put them in contention for the title. Ireland controlled much of the first half and were rewarded when Cathy Walsh scored from a penalty corner strike.
England 55s attacked right from the push back and less than a minute later were on level terms. They increased their lead from a penalty corner 2 minutes later, just before half time.
After the restart Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke following an illegal stop at a penalty corner, which Maura O’Neill converted to level things up again. Both teams pushed for the winning goal, Ireland having the better of the exchanges as England O55s tired in their second match of the day.
Ireland got the eventual winner 4 minutes from time when Dee Wallace scored from a penalty corner, tapping in at the back post following good work by Siobhan Forde. In the last game of the day England O50s beat Wales O50s 5-0 to win the O50/55s tournament on goal difference.
The final placings were: 1st England O50s (7pts, +8); 2nd Ireland O50s (7pts, +2); 3rd Scotland (6pts, +2); 4th England O55s (6pts, -1); 5th Wales (1pt). Orla Galvin was the Irish O50s player of the tournament. Tara Browne was awarded the Irish Masters (all age groups) Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
