DCU Ladies Hockey team claim The Chilean Plate with a close 5-4 victory against CIT in the final in Kilkenny, alongside DCU Men who came runners up.
The Irish Universities and Colleges Hockey Association hosted the Hockey Express All Ireland Mauritius and Chilean Plate competitions on October 27th and 28th in Kilkenny College School.
DCU’s men and ladies’ hockey teams competed alongside the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, NUI Maynooth, Carlow Institute of Technology, UL, NUI Galway, Athlone Institute of Technology and Technological University Dublin all competing in the annual intervarsity plate competition.
DCU Ladies started off their campaign with a convincing 12-1 against Maynooth and the men followed in similar style with a 6-0 win also against Maynooth.
DCU men took their turn hitting double figures in their second match winning 10-3 against RCSI. This was followed by a tight game for the men against NUIG in the semi-finals where they were defeated 2-1. All was not lost as NUIG were forced to withdraw, making DCU the finalists.
DCU ladies beat RCSI 5-2 in the semi-final to move swiftly into the final where they faced CIT. In an exciting and nail-biting finale DCU were triumphant in a 5-4 victory with goals from Alannah Rothwell, Kim O’Hare, Hannah Moynihan, Emma O’Sullivan and Claire Byrne.
However, CIT got their revenge in the men’s final beating the boys from North Dublin 4-3 in another close match. DCU’s goalkeeper turned striker, David Lawless scored a phenomenal drag flick into the top corner in the final as well as clinching 10 goals in the tournament, making him DCU’s top goal scorer.
DCU’s Men’s Captain, Will Eickholt said: “It was a great tournament for DCU hockey with our men’s team reaching the final and the ladies winning. We have a lot of new talented players this year and it is clear DCU hockey is going from strength to strength.”
Irish international Sarah Torrans graced the pitch on both days of the tournament alongside Caitlin Sheerin and Katie Fearon who are also on the Under 21 Irish panel. The trio shone on the pitch throughout the weekend with their skill and touch of class.
“The team has really come on in the last few years and I’m really pleased with the results. Thanks to all the teams for participating and IUCHA for running such a successful tournament once again,” said Chairperson of DCU Hockey Sarah Kelly.
The second intervarsity hockey competition will take place in February and is a mixed event, the location is not yet confirmed.
Katie Lowry
Image Credit: DCU Hockey