Dalkey gain revenge

SCHOOLGIRLS' HOCKEY/Leinster League final: Loreto Abbey Dalkey survived a rousing comeback by Mount Anville to win the Esat Digifone Leinster League final 2-1 at Grange Road yesterday, avenging their defeat by the holders in last year's semi-finals.

As big a crowd as you're likely to see at a hockey match this season was treated to a first-rate game between two evenly-matched teams, the difference between them, in the end, a superb solo goal from Beth Maguire.

Mount Anville opened brightly, with Christine Quinlan and Carol McGowan impressive in midfield, but fell behind in the 15th minute when Kate Dillon picked out Dalkey captain Eimear Willis on the right post - she forced the ball home from a narrow angle. Rachel McGrath came closest to equalising for Mount Anville late in the first half when her shot flew wide.

Immediately after the break McGrath, again, was within inches of equalising but four minutes into the second half Dalkey, for whom Emma Smyth and Fiona McCormick shone, doubled their lead.

An alert Maguire intercepted a clearance from the Mount Anville defence and surged through to the circle, skipping by three players, before firing past goalkeeper Gillian Young. Young kept her team in the game, though, with a fine save from Dillon soon after, signalling the start of the Mount Anville fightback.

With 20 minutes to play Gillian Davy brought her team back into the game when she cracked home a short corner strike and if it wasn't for displays by Dalkey sweeper Petra Grehan and centre back Karen Morrissey Mount Anville's pressure might have yielded them an equaliser.

Substitute Sorcha Ryan's bravery denied them late in the game, when she charged down another Davy shot from a corner, but Dalkey held on to edge a terrific final.

LEINSTER LEAGUE FINAL (at Grange Road) - Loreto Abbey Dalkey 2 (E Willis, B Maguire), Mount Anville 1 (G Davy).

LORETO ABBEY DALKEY: L Kennedy, P Grehan, M McCarthy, K Morrissey, M Spillane, E Smyth, K Dillon, J Walsh, B Maguire, F McCormick, E Willis (capt) . Subs: S Ryan, F Healy, M Hughes, R A Kilty, J Touhy.

MOUNT ANVILLE: G Young, A McCabe, S Blennerhassett, K Quigley, L Banahan, K Fitzgerald, C Quinlan, C McGowan, C Sexton, G Davy (capt), R McGrath. Subs: S Geoghan, R Copeland, K O'Donnell, D McGuinness, L Coady.

Umpires: P Errity and P Hale.