Limerick's Catholic Institute book Women’s Irish Senior Cup final place

LORETO 0 CATHOLIC INSTITUTE 1;  

LIMERICK'S Catholic Institute have qualified for their third Women’s Irish Senior Cup Final in a row by beating 2024 EY Hockey League Women’s Division 1 Champions Loreto 1-0 in the first Women’s semi-final at Beaufort.

Catholic Institute claimed the Irish Senior Cup for the first time in their history in 2022 when edging past Pembroke 1-0, thanks to an Aoife Hickey goal, in their final played at Belfield.

It was a case of third time lucky for Catholic Institute in the Irish Senior Cup final after losing out in the in 1979 and 1984 deciders.

In this weekend's semi-final, Institute broke in the first minute and found Roisín Begley inside the Loreto semi-circle and she rifled the ball into the net for a goal worthy to win any hockey game. Catholic Institute and Loreto still had 69 minutes left to play so it was far from clear how this game would finish.

Catholic Institute hit Loreto on the counterattack and enjoyed a fair amount of possession in the first and second quarters. Despite Loreto forcing a number of penalty corners it was still 1-0 to the Shannonsiders at half-time. 

Loreto were completely dominant in the third quarter forcing at least half a dozen penalty corners and long corners, but the Catholic Institute defense marshalled by Anna Horan and the superb Emilie Ryan-Doyle was also backstopped by former Ireland International Pamela Smithwick-Hearne in goal.

There was a whole team effort involved with the likes of Naomi Carroll and goal scorer Roisin Begley popping up in defensive positions to make crucial tackles and interceptions. As the game wore on the penalty corners improved from Loreto and Emilie Ryan Doyle took one effort off the line when it seemed an almost certain goal.

But despite their best efforts, especially in the second half, Loreto could find no way through. Catholic Institute qualify for this year’s final where they will play the winners of the second semi-final between UCD and Railway Union due to be played at Belfield in the next couple of weeks.

LORETO: Liz Murphy, Lisa Mulcahy, Siofra O’Brien, Mia Jennings (C), Grace McLaughlin, Caitlin Sherin, Sarah Torrans, Grace Donald, Christina Hamill, Hannah Matthews, Rachel Kelly. SUBS USED: Ashling Murray (4 mins), Hannah McLoughlin (5 mins), Ella Pasley (6 mins), Katie Dunne (7 mins), Caoimhe Perdue (8 mins)

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE: Pamela Smithwick-Hearne, Roisín Begley, Aoife Hickey, Laura Foley, Ciara Moloney, Eimear Ryan (C), Naomi Carroll, Anna Horan, Emilie Ryan-Doyle, Jennifer Clein, Michelle Barrett. SUBS USED: Leah Clery (4 Mins), Sarah Fitzgerald (5 mins), Aoibheann Collins (6 mins) , Seodhna Dervan (12 mins)  Tory Byrne (24 mins)