The 1st year girls took on Avoca in the Division 1 shield final in a sunny Newpark and it was the home side that dominated the initial period scoring two good reverse stick goals to take a 2-0 half time. Coach Claudia Coyne made some changes at half time and her team talk had the desired impact as the Railway girls started to apply pressure on the home side and enjoyed the better of possession. As they got a goal back from a 4v3 which Danni Mannion converted the girls grew in confidence strong defensive work from Lizzie Traynor forced several turnovers and with Jessica Carroll who took a serious hit to the shoulder in the first half but continued playing came to the fore it was no surprise when Danni Mannion equalised with seven minutes to go, Railway were unable to get the winner and the game went to 1v1s.
With both goalkeepers resolute goals were hard to come by and as it went to sudden death the experience of Railway's goalkeeper Chloe Hiles came to the fore creating several chances for Railway to win and it was in the fourth sudden death shuttle that Nicole Barry forced home the winner with the ball crossing the line right as the whistle went.
Both sides can be very proud of the high quality match in front of a good crowd and well done to the umpires in testing conditions.