January 27, 2005

31-5-05

Phelie Maguire played his second match for the senior Irish squad, playing for the development eleven against Italy last week. He was instrumental in winning the stroke which lead to Stephen Butler’s crucial goal, being clobbered by the Italian net minder to secure a 2-1 win.

Shane Farrell has taken up the position of 4th XI captain for next year.

28-5-5

Last Friday’s Coulson Cup match ended in a 5-3 victory for the Three Rock president’s XI. Sixteen graduates turned out to a sunny College Park against the first XI. Photos will be posted shortly…

21-4-05

The AGM for the DUHC took place last night:

The following officers were elected to the club for the season 2005-06:

President: Roger West

Club Captain: Adam Ward

Match Secretary: Henry Keane

Club Secretary: Phillip Balbirnie

Treasurer: Jonathan Royds

Social Secretary: Andrew White

The team captains for next season for 1sts, 2nds and 3rds will be Phelie Maguire, Richie Miles and David Nolan respectively. A fourth XI Captain will be named in due course.

18-4-05

Once again, Trinity retained its first division status with a nervy, but ultimately stylish, performance. UCD, this time, were the promotion hopefuls but, whereas Avoca’s challenge was based on experience this year’s opponents were full of youthful exuberance. In true Brian Delaney fashion, they came out all guns blazing and won a few early corners. A breakaway down the left, though, resulted in a through ball from Stephen Findlater to Peter Blakeney in the circle who rounded the last defender and scooped the ball over the prostrate keeper. UCD came straight back, scoring from a rebound. Peter got his second before half-time from a drag-flick to leave the score at 2-1 at the break. Whilst the team had performed well in patches, an onslaught was expected and duly encountered. A ‘duffed’ short-corner gave us a 3-1 lead before Dan Needham was sin-binned for a rather abrupt halting of a UCD attack. This gave them the impetous to go forward and were rewarded with two goals to level matters with barely ten minutes remaining. It was in these final minutes that the side played its most composed hockey of the game. Peter Blakeney got his fourth with his drag-flick and then Roly Budd rounded off an excellent move, involving a square pass from Phelie Maguire to Stephen Findlater whose first time pass found Budd on the flick spot. His calm finish left the score at 5-3 and so the celebrations could begin.

Whilst the side has performed well in parts this season, with a positive free-scoring attitude, it is unfortunate to once again be involved in the promotion/relegation playoff. Many players individual skills have improved greatly and this can be seen in the growth of the squad size, 20 players being used in total. Thanks to John Blakeney for his imposing captaincy this year and Nasir Munir for his technical and ‘innovative’ coaching, with tales of the golden sparrow, how to catch a snake, ‘warm-up milo’, the phelie, the john, the graham, the mark likely to live on long in the memory of many of the players involved.

Squad: John Blakeney, Peter Blakeney, Johnny Royds, Johnny Orr, Mark (Study-time Franky) Stewart, Graham O’Neill, Brian Scully, Stephen Findlater, Richie Miles, Hugh Cashell, Owen Graham, Phelie Maguire, Ross Cullen, Michael O’Herlihy, Ben Hewitt, Conor O’Sullivan, Alec Barrett, Colin Peirce, Roly Budd, Dan Needham

12-4-05

John Blakeney and Alec Barrett were selected for the Leinster Development team which took on Aer Lingus in a challenge match last saturday. Congratulations to them.

2-4-05

The 1sts fulfilled their end of the bargain, overcoming Clontarf 4-1 in a bruising enocunter to conclude the regular league season. YMCA unfortunately held out for a 1-1 draw with Glenanne, the latter having three men sent off and so, for what seems the umpteenth time, the 1sts will have to play a playoff for their division 1 status, the opponents this year being old rivals UCD. Peter Blakeney scored two, to end up with 29 league goals and a chance to be top scorer in the league. Alec Barrett and Richie Miles got the other goals to make Trinity the highest scoring side in Division one this year.

31-3-05

Congratualtions to Brian Scully, John and Peter Blakeney on winning their match for the Irish Unis 2-1 against the Irish Colleges, held in Grange Road yesterday.

20-3-05

An eventful weekend saw the 1st XI undergo a whole gamut of emotions, from the dejection of just missing out on a point in a 6-5 defeat to Aer Lingus, to the sensation of hope experienced after today’s 4-1 victory over Three Rock Rovers. The 1sts now lie three points behind YMCA with a game to play against Clontarf. A win there, and Glenanne doing us a favour and beating the Y could give us a playoff for the playoff spot!

Saturday’s match, as the scoreline suggests was a free flowing affair, goals from Peter Blakeney from a drag-flick, Richie Miles deflected effort and a Roly Budd tap-in lead to a 3-3 interval scoreline. The Lingus managed to take the decisive lead going into a 6-4 lead with five minutes to go. Alec Barrett pulled one back from the spot and an equaliser was almost realised when first Hugh Cashell had a shot blocked and a final minute short-corner was inches wide. So to Sunday, with a win vital to have any chance of avoiding the play-off. A laid-back Rovers side was punished early, Roly Budd latching onto an early chance after Peter had intercepted a pass around the visitor’s back four. This lead was doubled when Blakeney junior got on the end of a Stephen Findlater free hit. Rovers briefly threatened, gaining one back through old boy Justin Crudd but this proved to be only a consolation, as Trinity dominated the game from then on. Alec Barett scored before half-time after another Findlater long-hit rebounded off the post. The style was turned on in the second half, and Rovers barely threatened, Phelie Maguire and Hugh Cashell combining well down the lright hand side to force an opening for Peter to net his 27th goal of the league campaign.

The 2nds completed their league programme on sunday, drawing 2-2 with Three Rock also, in Graham O’Neill’s last competitive fixture for the club. Fellow old school big timer, Mark Stewart joined him on the scoresheet, both goals being accrued from short corners. A late goal by Rovers meant a draw, but it was a satisfactory end to an up and down season which may yet end in promotion. The side look set to finish third behind Three Rock and Pembroke 3rds who are unable to gain promotion. On saturday, UCD were put to the sword and, ultimately, to the drop, with a comprehensive 4-2 win. Two Tom Allum strikes and one apiece for Mark Stewart and Michael O’Herlihy gave us a healthy lead which was only blotted with two goals conceded when the game was already up. The 2s have improved immeasurably this year and, were it not for some weak performances against the sides in the lower reaches of the table, could have gone on to pick up some silverware. As it was, Matt Smith’s team finished in their highest league position for many a year.

Finally for this week, congratulations to the ladies 1st team who won the Ladies Leinster League Division 2 title this week. The ladies 2nds will find out on wednesday if they have gained promotion in their league. The thirds stayed safe in division 6 whilst the 4ths finished in the upper reaches of division 8, only a year after gaining promotion. The 5ths put in a fighting performance and managed to buy some goalie gear this year.

 

14-3-05

A rough saturday was endured by the club, the 1sts and 4ths both losing in important matches. The 1sts lost to Railway Union 4-2 in must-win relegation battle. Despite taking the lead after a minute, through an excellent Roly Budd goal, following a Johnny Royds save which started the move, it was a thouroughly disappointing first half ended with us trailing 3-1 by the break. The second half saw us push a bit more, but a lack of nous around the circle meant only a Peter Blakeney strike could be shown for much effort.

The 4ths lost for the second week running, being out-thought by an ageing Three Rock 7th eleven. This means that they are out of the race for the title, trailing Smithfield by a point with two extra games played. Adam Ward scored and could have had another were it not for old-school defensive work from the evergreen John Findlater.

The 2nds, though, had an upturn in fortunes putting paid to Corinthian 3rds title hopes. They won 3-1 on sunday, goals from Mark Stewart, Richie Miles and Paddy Frankel, despite going behind early on from a Graham O’Neill own goal.

The final total of the Tsunmai Appeal has arrived at 3500euro. Well done to all the people who organised the day for their great acheivements, especially Brian Scully.

10-3-05

Phelie made his international debut last night, coming on 25minutes into the 1st half at left midfield and then moved into the forward line, toward the end of the game. Whilst it was a disappointing night for the side, losing 4-2 to a 10 man Belgium side, four of whom’s squad missed their flight. Phelie produced a solid performance, almost getting on the scoresheet two minutes from time after weaving his way thorugh the right hand side of the circle, ghosting past two players and firing a reverse shot over the bar. The club came out in force, in what was a memorable night for the club. You can see Phelie receiving his debut cap from Grace Redmond by clicking here and can read more about the game here.

STOP PRESS

Phelie Maguire has been announced in the full Irish squad to play Belgium on wednesday night at 830pm in Grange Road. This could be a first senior international cap gained by a club member since Liam Canning fully twenty years ago, and so is a momentous occasion. Let’s make sure a good Trinity contingent makes it’s way up to the game

8-3-05

With many club members away on tour in Nottingham, only two matches were played over the weekend. The 4ths had a crunch match against Smithfield, who we lead by two points before the start of day’s play. A solid first-half performance, in the face of some rough-house tactics, was rewarded with a wonderful reverse stick strike from Luke McCarrick, his first ever goal in any form of hockey (including uni-hockey). Our stoic defence though couldn’t be sustained and Smithfield managed to bully the young fourths team and garnered three goals to win 3-1. This leaves us a point behind but with refixed matches in the upcoming weeks against TRR and Railway Union, the title is still very much in the balance.

The 2nds played their first match for a number of weeks, and proved to be quite ring-rusty. Despite a reasonable first half effort, the second was of quite a low standard. Andreas Gilmore managed to tap in but it was ultimately in vain, going down 2-1 to leave us decidedly midtable with three games to play. We do, though, have the chance of relegating UCD from this league in two weeks time which should be ample motivation for the upcoming weeks.

Nottingham, this year, was the venue for the Rebel Tour and was taken by storm by the sunshine yellow brigade, led once again by Adam Ward. You can see photos of this in the social section. Click here to see them.

27-2-05

The 3rds managed to secure a second promotion in three seasons in emphatic style on saturday afternoon, firing ten goals past a hapless Wicklow side in the Garden county. Arriving in hockey rooms, early on saturday morning, the mood was bouyant, knowing that only a point was required, given Railway’s victory over fellow promotion contenders, Corinthians 5ths. With New Square being transformed into a pre-journey warm-up pitch, the tone was set for an enjoybale days hockey. Despite the minor annoyances of an hour being stuck listening to Stokes on the drive to the venue, all thirteen members of the squad arrived in top form, ready for the encounter ahead.

If there were any anxieties these were soon put to rest, six goals being accumulated in the opening half. A slightly more muted second half performance on the picturesque grit pitch, meant four more were scored, with Wicklow gaining one in consolation. The main action, though, was in the umpiring corner, Brian Gageby having to replace Cian Denham for unknown (competence?) reasons midway through the period. Andreas Gilmore was the star man once again, scoring another four goals, Colm D’Olier got a brace, with Umar Ahmed, Alan Stokes, Cian Denham and Andy White completing the rout.

Having only been promoted two seasons previously, this season’s efforts can be seen as an ongoing upsurge in the club’s fortunes. Cian Denham has managed to get over 14 players out to virtually every single game this season. Allying this to the success of the 4ths, the more social end of the club is evidently making great strides and for this all the guys who have helped in acheiveing this need to be congratulated.

21-2-05

Yesterday’s Tsunami Relief Appeal was one of the highlights of an action packed weekend. Whilst the monies are still being counted, initial estimations are that well over 2,000euro was raised and for this excellent effort Brian Scully and Roger West’s efforts should be appreciated. The day started with mixed veterans game between DUHC and UCD, with such hockey playing luminaries as Robert Haughton, Stuart Margetson, Kevin Empey, Justin Elliott and Davey Sterrit making the team. They managed a 3-0 win. Next up were the ladies firsts, where UCD picked up a comfortable 3-0 win. In the final match-up, the two universities mens 1sts took the field to play their parts in a goal fest. UCD raced into a 4-0 lead by half-time. The Trin got back into the game in the second half, with goals from Peter Blakeney (2), Ross Cullen and Dan Needham. However, this wasn’t quite enough, as UCD managed a fifth to take the match 5-4.

Saturday saw three league matches, with a win, a draw and a loss being procured. The firsts continued their good form of late with a 2-2 draw away to Monkstown. After a dodgy opening period, and finding ourselves only 1-0 down despite playing poorly, we suddenly managed to turn the game on its head after 25minutes, netting twice in two minutes. Peter Blakeney got on the end of an excellent 50 metre passing move for the first, Phelie Maguire bagging the second after a sublime through ball from Stephen Findlater. Both sides had chances in the second half, but Monkstown eventually got an equaliser, despite Hugh Cashell and Brian Scully’s numerous goal-line clearances.

The seconds lost 7-0 away to South-East Wanderers. The 4ths, however, produced a strong performance, winning 5-1 away to YMCA. Adam Ward(2), Thomas Gajan, Zack Maenpaa and Pete Jones(his first for the club) all got on the scoresheet. This keeps them firmly in the running for a promotion spot.

The 3rds game against Three Rock was called off only two hours before the game by our opponents on sunday whilst the indoor side went down 6-4 to YMCA.

14-2-05

The 3rds managed a vital late win to gain second place with two games remaining in division 8 against Railway Union. Leading 1-0 at half-time through Umar Ahmed goal, the second half went a bit pear-shaped, letting two in to trail with minutes to go. A fortuitous Paddy Frankel strike three minutes from the end equlaized and then, in the final throes of the game, Colm D’Olier scored a first-time effort from the top of the D to give the 3rds a victory against the runaway leaders of the division.

The 4ths lost a bit of ground, failing to capitalise on Smithfield’s loss to Navan, losing 1-0 to Bray.

STOP PRESS!

Dublin University Hockey Club in association with the Leinster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association will be holding an appeal for Tsunami Relief Aid on February the 20th. Matches will take place between DUHC and UCD hockey clubs, both current and veteran players in Railway Union Hockey Club from 2pm until 530pm. All proceeds will go to GOAL. Collections will be made on the day or, alternatively, you can post cheques/donations to DUHC, c/o DUCAC, House 27, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2. It should be a great event so please come along and support it.

6-2-05

A win and two draws were garnered from this weekend’s action, the 1sts picking up a last-gasp 3-2 win away to YMCA, the 2nds drawing in Tallaght and the 3rds away to South East Wanderers. After a resolute opening sixty minutes in the newly refurbished Claremont road, the first team found themselves cruising at 2-0, both strikes courtesy of Peter Blakeney’s drag flicks, the team hit the self-destruct button, allowing two goals in to leave the score level with only moments remaining. A final minute short corner, though, paved the way for Stephen Findlater to snatch the winner from a close-range rebound. The 3rds also scored late to nab a point in Gorey, Andreas Gilmore netting his second with barely two minutes left on the counter to level the match at 3-3. Umar Ahmed struck as well. The 2nds slipped up a bit in their title chase, letting a 2-0 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit before Mark Stewart rescued a point from an angrily hit short corner. Ben Hewitt and Michael O’Herlihy also were on the scoresheet.

30-1-05

A super Santry saturday saw the 2nds, 3rds and 4ths all continue their promotion pushes with comprehensive wins over Monkstown, Clontarf and Pembroke respectively. The 2nds were first up, overcoming some early jitters to complete a league double with a 3-0 win, Mark Stewart, Johnny Orr and Michael O’Herlihy getting the goals. The 3rds went even better recording a fine 5-1 win, despite a number of cry-offs on the day. Umar Ahmed netted a hat-trick with Willi Archer and Colm D’Olier also on the scoresheet. The best was saved til last, though, with the 4ths putting on a master-class, firing 9 past a hapless Pembroke 8th XI. Zack Maenpaa and David Misstear both bagged three goals, with Paddy Frankel, Ben Rodger and Cian Denham also scoring. The ninth goal was also the 200th goal the club, as a whole, has scored this season. Quite a feat, seeing as this is already over 20 more than we scored in the whole of last season.

On sunday, the indoor outfit was not as successful against the more experienced Railway Union side, going down 13-4. Mark Stewart and Peter Blakeney both got two goals apiece.

In Cork, Ben Hewitt and Dan Needham(despite the best intnetions of both his own coach and a duped umpire from the night before) both scored to give the Irish Universities a 2-1 win over Munster. Alec Barrett scored in Leinster’s 3-3 draw with Munster and was used to good effect as an impact sub.

28-1-05

This weekend sees the under 21 Interprovincial tournament taking place in Cork. The club has a number of representatives: Alec Barrett making the under 21 Leinster team and Brian Scully(vice-captain), Ben Hewitt and Dan Needham playing for the Irish University selection. Phelie Maguire and Peter Blakeney, who spent the week in Barcelona training with the national squad, were not considered for selection.

27-1-05

Hockey colours was held on Tuesday in Belfield. Much to the chagrin of the club, though, unfortunately, the ladies were unable to uphold their end of the bargain and so colours were lost for the third year in a row. The men’s club managed two and a half points out of four, with the 2nds and 4ths picking up impressive victories. An understrength first team, missing Phelie Maguire, Peter Blakeney, Roly Budd, Colin Peirce and Alec Barrett, also gained a draw, though many chances went abegging in the process. The 3rds were the men’s only losers, going to down to a side in the division above, losing to a late rebound strike. The ladies club lost four out of five matches which meant UCD maintained colours with a winning margain of five and a half to three of a points.

The results were:

Mens 1sts 1-1 Ross Cullen,

Mens 2nds 9-4, Mark Stewart 4, Ben Hewitt, Richie Miles, Graham O’Neill, Matt Smith

Mens 3rds 0-1

Mens 4ths 4-3 Ben Rodger 2, Chris Darling, Paddy Frankel

Ladies 1sts 1-2 Hazel Irvine

Ladies 2nds 1-2 Roisin Hughes

Ladies 3rds 0-3

Ladies 4ths 2-0

Ladies 5ths 0-3

23-1-05

The 1sts finally got back to winning ways, thoroughly hammering Corinthians, 5-1. Despite going a goal behind after ten minutes, a deft touch from former player Paul "Enigma" Tuthill, Trinity dominated the majority of the first half and should have been many goals ahead but for profligate finishing. Stephen Findlater tapped in to equalise before Peter Blakeney struck his 20th league goal of the campaign to give us a well-merited 2-1 half-time lead. This was added to in the 2nd half by Roly Budd, Brian Scully from the spot and finished off in style with another Findlater strike. With Railway losing, this puts us a point behind them in ninth spot with a game in hand. Clontarf narrowly lost to Glenanne and so look doomed to relegation, having only garnered 2 points from thirteen games.

The 3rds matched the 1sts exploits, beating fellow promotion hopefuls RCSI, 5-1 in the rain in Santry. Cian Denham, Graham O’Neill, David Nolan, Willi Archer and Colm D’Olier(a stuuning upright reverse stick shot into the roof of the net) all got their names on the score-sheet, leaving them second in the table with five games remaining.

The 4ths bowed out gracefully from the Minor Cup, losing to division 9 side, Naas 3rds, 4-1. The high points were the goal-mouth scramble which saw Ben Rodger, Robbie Woods and Luke McCarrick fight to put the ball in the goal from 3 inches and Adam Ward slipping (no joke!) on a banana skin that was left on the pitch. This ends the clubs interest in any cup competition

17-1-05

Peter Blakeney was named Leinster Senior League Player of the Month for December. Congratulations!

16-1-05

A brave and exciting performance, for the umpteenth time, was not rewarded with anything more tangible than a 4-2 defeat in the Irish Senior Cup 4th round. Facing the Cup Holders and Irish Club Champions, the 1sts were handed an uneniable task. The first five minutes though wopuld have left you wondering which side was riding high in all competitions. Trinity opened with two gilt-edged chances in the opening throes, Alec Barrett and Stephen Findlater going close. So, it was with particular surprise that Instonians took the lead after 10 minutes. This did not affect our attacking wishes, though, culiminating in Peter Blakeney creating a dream chance to equalise before somehow managing to knock an opening goal, wide. Further insult was added when Instonians broke soon after to score a 1 on 1 chance. Dan Needham pulled one back from a free-in on the half-time whistle, but it was scant reward, given the chances created. The second half saw more of the same, an exchange of goals bringing us to 3-2, again Dan Needham scoring close in, as the game entered its final ten minutes. With the students pressing forward, Instonians picked up the clinching goal on the break. The feeling after the game was that it was an opportunity lost, whilst the performance should hold us in good stead for next week’s visit from Corinthians.

The 4ths maintained the pressure on Smithfield in the division 10 title chase, winning against the odds against Weston. Despite only 10 players and Hughie Passmore only leaving the casino at 8am, the 4ths had a game on their hands. Trailing 1-0 early on and Weston having a host of chances, the signs looked ominous. However, the return to form of French superstar Thomas Gajan, scoring 2 goals and creating another for Ben Rodger in the 2nd half put the victory in sight. A late Weston strike could not change the issue and the win was assured moments after, 3-2. Olly Heaton was outstanding in goal, under a torrent of shots.

The 3rds bowed out of the Junior Cup to Three Rock 6ths, 5-2. Umar Ahmed scored twice on a disappointing afternoon under the Santry floodlights.

10-1-05

The new year started in an inauspicious manner, four games played, four lost. The 1sts went down 3-2 in Tallaght. After going 3-0 down, a brave fightback was made, though not in the most stylish of circumstances. Alec Barrett scored from a dubious penalty stroke and Phelie Maguire added another. Once again, it was too little too late. Glenanne were the 1sts opponents again the next day in Leinster Senior Mills Cup. Missing a number of key players: Phelie Maguire and Peter Blakeney on international duty, Roly Budd and John Blakeney out of action, resources were stretched to the hilt with the 2nds playing at the same time. A good first half performance with Stephen Findlater pulling the strings in midfield was rewarded with a well-worked Alec Barrett goal. This was as good as it got us, though, and we lost out 5-1, despite good performances from Ben Hewitt, Alec and Conor O’Sullivan.

The 2nds, with a depleted squad and many returning members, Cormac Staunton(outflield!), Johnny Harte and Cormac, "Crummer" Neill, this was bound to be a slightly disjointed performance and so YMCA 2nds won handsomely. The 3rds lost to Pembroke in Serpentine avenue 4-1, Michael O’Herlihy scoring to round off a particularly unsuccessful weekend.