Pre-season started with a luxury trip up North to Mosley Hockey club. Emer and the head coaches organised a fantastic weekend of hockey, stretches, drinks, stretches, lasagne and more stretches. We played top level hockey across 3 matches which gave us a marker for the season ahead. We maintained this high tempo driven by our devoted coach Bobbo and captain Maebh.
Division 5 was freshened up this year with the addition of explosive teams Wexford and Kilkenny who stepped things up to a div 1 level. Kilkenny especially had us digging deep to get to the final whistle relatively unharmed (apart from Dee’s broken arm which was no big deal). We had some young talent who brought the spark back to the team – Grace, Suzi and Hannah.
Halfway through the season out in Monkstown Bobbo gave an emotional speech. He said, ‘coaching you girls has made me feel complete’ he also mentioned ’before I coached the Seconds I had no real aim in life’, he even told us ‘I wish to give up playing men’s hockey to give you guys my undivided attention’. There was a lot of tears and we managed to tunnel these emotions to go forth and win the next heck load of matches. Well done to Rebecca and Stano who always had the guts to try a reverse stick shot on goals. Elaine, Andy and Jacqui built a wall at the back line which resembled a dream Trump once had.
After a fantastic season on the pitch – on paper we finished fourth, which is practically second if Kilkenny and Wexford had been placed in the correct division. Second is pretty much winning.
Dee’s fav player: Lorna
Top scorer: Lauren who also won best dressed at the club dinner (awarded by Dee)
MVP: Katie, Clontarf’s sweetheart
Written By: Deirdre Mahon