HOCKEY Leinster Schoolgirls Senior Cup final/St Andrew's 2 Loreto Beaufort 0: When St Andrew's won the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time in 2003, so exceptional was the team they retained the trophy a year later. But, having then lost the bulk of that squad, it seemed the necessary rebuilding process might see the school waiting some time before adding a third cup to their list of honours.
Well, as it proved, the wait lasted no more than two years: yesterday, at Grange Road, second-half goals from Gillian Lane and Chloe Watkins gave St Andrew's victory over Loreto Beaufort and their third Leinster Senior Cup in four seasons.
It was 1982 when Beaufort last won this competition, but the manner in which Mary Barnwell's team began the game it looked like that 24-year wait might soon be over. There was never a great deal between the teams in the first half, with few clear-cut chances being forged, but what openings there were fell to Beaufort.
A snap shot from Aisling Campion after just two minutes was saved by St Andrew's goalkeeper Ciara Rowe, who went on to make the save of the game when she came off her line to block Róisín O'Keeffe's effort in a one-on-one.
By then Megan O'Flanagan had set up O'Keeffe in the circle, when she smartly turned her marker on the right wing and slipped the ball into the path of the advancing forward, but O'Keeffe swept the ball just wide.
O'Keeffe, though, persistently caused problems for the St Andrew's defence, but her team were unable to capitalise on their chances, including two first-half short corners.
Beaufort began the second half as they had ended the first, marginally on top, looking the more threatening in attack, but the game changed from the moment St Andrew's won their first short corner, eight minutes in to the second half, one that seemed to spark them in to action.
Captain Hannah Leggett fired just wide to the left, but a minute later St Andrew's forced a second corner and this time, after Caitriona Collins had saved from Leggett, the rebound fell to Lane, who turned it home.
Stirred by the goal, St Andrew's came alive, with Caitriona McGilp and Rachel Burke an increasing force in midfield, and having failed to win a single corner in the opening 30 minutes they won three in four second-half minutes; the third, another strike from Leggett, was saved by Collins.
Beaufort, for whom midfielder Orlagh O'Shea, Victoria Redmond and Campion had excelled, fought desperately to get back in the game, but struggled to find a way past Leggett and Claire Stephens at the back.
The game was settled four minutes from time when 13-year-old Chloe Watkins, yet again producing a performance that suggests the girl is very definitely "one to watch", scored St Andrew's second goal. McGilp burst forward from midfield, switched the ball right to Rachel Burke and she played it in to the circle where Courtney Watkins hit it first time. Her younger sister got a touch on her strike, just to be sure - 2-0, game over.
Yet another success for St Andrew's, then, a new dynasty appears to have been born, but there was enough quality in Beaufort's display to suggest that they will soon bridge that now 25-year Leinster Senior Cup winning gap.
ST ANDREW'S: C Rowe, H Leggett, L Mullane, C Stephens, S O'Conaill, G Moore, C McGilp, R Burke, G Lane, E Carson, Courtney Watkins. Subs: Chloe Watkins, L Willis, I O'Keeffe, E Clarke, J Doran.
LORETO BEAUFORT: C Collins, A Cronin, G Brennan, J Dawson, V Redmond, L Ryan, O O'Shea, H Matthews, M O'Flanagan, R O'Keeffe, A Campion. Subs: Z Delany, R Maunsell, S Barnwell, A Egan, C MacNamara
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