Loreto 1
Gorey 1

Gorey travelled to Loreto for a late-game played under lights. Unfortunately, it was a rare draw and low scoring, one all game for the North Wexford girls.

Gorey started well as Sarah Merrigan and Muireann Deegan, playing her first game in the centre of midfield, linked up well to get a shot off. The keeper saved it and it rebounded off a Loreto foot for the first short corner of the game, and after some ding dong hockey in the D, it led to the second short. Robyn Swords pushed back to Sarah who slipped it to Muireann but the reverse shot was saved off the line. Within minutes Gorey’s good start was undone when Loreto won a short corner and managed to get lucky deflection off Sarah’s stick to send it into the net, leaving Gorey 1 0 down. Robyn worked hard with a long run down the left wing which resulted in a quickly taken free from Sarah to Muireann who swept the ball narrowly wide in the best chance of the quarter.

The 2nd quarter began with Gorey attacking hard to try and get an equaliser, but finding it tough against a strong Loreto defence. Heather O’Sullivan dribbled through numerous Loreto sticks to win a short corner which resulted in another Muireann near miss. Loreto were working hard too and got the ball into the Gorey D but it was saved well by Abigail Nuzum. After some good interlinking play between Robyn, Aisling Buttle, and Sarah, Gorey won another short which was switched left to sweeper Bridget Kenny who fancied her chances with a first time shot but it was miraculously saved on the line by a Loreto defender.

The third quarter began as the second ended with Gorey still chasing an equaliser. Gorey absorbed some early pressure with good defending from Bridget and Corrina Bailey, allowing Ruth Evans to work the ball out wide to Robyn on the left. Her strong run left her with a free hit across the D to the awaiting Odile Evans who put the resulting shot slightly to the right and wide. Ruth pushed up more in this quarter and was rewarded with a short corner for her hard work. The short corner was worked straight from the training ground, Robyn pushed out to Sarah who returned the ball back to her and she passed out to Muireann on the penalty spot, and she slotted it home for the long-awaited equaliser. This lifted Gorey’s game and they finished out the quarter strong but couldn’t convert.

The final quarter saw good work from the midfield with Heather coming more into the game. Despite all the possession a winner was just out of reach. While Gorey can be disappointed to not get the win they can be happy to not concede in the last play of the game. Loreto won a short corner just as the final whistle went and Gorey’s first runner Ruth applied enough pressure to force the shot wide and end the game with one goal apiece.

Team: Abigail Nuzum, Bridget Kenny, Vicky Hughes, Ruth Evans, Corrina Bailey, Robyn Swords, Muireann Deegan, Heather O’Sullivan, Aislinn Buttle, Sarah Merrigan, Odile Evans