Railway womens 1sts completed another incredible year by completing the Irish Hockey league and cup double for the second successive year after again defeating Loreto on Saturday at Grange road 2-1 in the Irish cup final.

The successful year is even more incredible this year given playing resources were stretched with Irish internationals Niamh and Michelle Carey playing in Belgium and other players travelling for the year also. Una McCarthy, the coaching team and the players showed great determination and commitment to repeat their achievements alongside a successful European league campaign and not to mention their indoor triumphs at Leinster, Irish and Europeans too.

Saturdays match saw the girls in yellow take on Loreto again looking to defeat them for the third time in a row, it was Loreto who enjoyed the superior possession without being able to create goalscoring opportunities. It was Railway who opened the scoring as a great pass from Orla Fox saw Sarah Patton convert to make it 1-0. As the half went on Railway won a number of corners but several popped up from the surface causing issues trapping the ball for the girls combined with solid short corner defensive work.

The second half was an even affair with both teams having plenty of goal scoring opportunities and it was the performances from both defences and in particular goalkeepers Lizzie Murphy and Railway’s Emma Moloney (Buckley) who made several important saves none more so than the two close range deflections that Murphy saved from Katie Mullan and Moloney’s short corner saves. Loreto’s short corner count was in double figures and from the same end where Railway struggled they too could not trap the ball and when they did they found the Railway PC defence team in top form. The second period flow was disrupted by a number of green and yellow cards that were not really in keeping with the game and then with the keeper taken off in the final stages Railway won a penalty stroke, Murphy was brought back on but in was Roisin Upton again who scored another penalty stroke past the Irish keeper.

At dead time Loreto won another short corners and the only blemish on a perfect day saw Loreto score a consolation goal to make the end scoreline 2-1. Railway’s GK Emma Moloney was named player of the match which was testament to the vital saves, clearances and defensive organisational that was crucial in the final.

The game also marked the last first eleven match for Railway’s Emma Smyth after over 20 years playing in the yellow of Railway including a decade in the green of Ireland it was the perfect 40th birthday present to win the Irish Senior cup. It was particularly fitting in front of her family and mum and dad Siobhan and Brendan who have been a big part of the Railway hockey club family for many many years and contributed so much to the club.