Dalkey take League title for first time

First-half goals from Ciara Willis and Laura McLoughlin gave Loreto Abbey Dalkey their first victory in a Leinster Senior League hockey final when they beat Wesley College 2-0 at Belfield yesterday.

Wesley, who were asked to don luminous orange `bibs' a minute into the match after the umpires decided their colours were indistinguishable from Loreto's, had the better of the opening exchanges, with the superb Nikki Symmons always a danger down the right wing.

It was Loreto, however, who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when, after making an excellent save from Katherine Little's shot, Wesley goalkeeper Anna Rice was powerless to prevent Willis from forcing home the rebound.

Five minutes later, McLoughlin scored an outstanding solo goal, again set up by Little, the Loreto captain. Little blocked a shot from a Wesley short corner, then picked out McLoughlin on the half-way line with a perfect pass and the left winger took off at pace, rounded the last defender and fired past Rice from the edge of the circle.

Wesley responded gallantly in the second half, laying siege to the Loreto goal but goalkeeper Emer Ryan pulled off a string of admirable saves from Sarah Walker (twice), Lisa Kelly and captain Jenny Osbourne to keep her team's lead intact.

Loreto coach Margaret McGoldrick paid a gracious tribute at full-time to a fine Wesley team while expressing her delight at her school's first success in the competition.

Loreto Abbey, Dalkey: E Ryan, C Willis, C Sparks, N Ni Cholmain, K Little (capt), C Crowley, S Grehan, N Curtin, B Sparks, L McLoughlin, K Clarke. Subs: E Dunphy, R Power, N Noronha, F Grehan, E Dillon.

Wesley College: A Rice, G Delahunt, S Hayes, J Osbourne (capt), C Wall, C Swarbrigg, C Cox, N Symmons, K Hobson, L Kelly, R Stewart. Subs: S Walker, A Geoffray, A Cope, D Porter, C Proctor.

Umpires: F Tipple and P Hale.