A 4-0 victory over Queen's University in the final of the Chilean Cup at Dardistown yesterday capped what has been a hugely successful year for Trinity College's women's hockey team.
Under the guidance of Dutch coach Rudi Wortmann, the students began their first season in the top flight of the Leinster League in over a decade last September, after winning promotion in the previous campaign, and that achievement was crowned by yesterday's comfortable win over Queen's.
Anya Bowers created a goal for Jan Perrin after just three minutes and Sarah O'Connor added a second 10 minutes later. It was, however, two goals in two minutes from Perrin again and Zanya Dahl, shortly after the restart, that put the game beyond the reach of Queen's.
The outstanding Anya Bowers gave the Ulster defence a torrid afternoon while Dahl, the Trinity captain, controlled midfield with ease.
A goal from Roisin McFeeley, four minutes from the end of extra time, had given Queen's - victory earlier in the day over cup holders UCC while Limerick fell 2-0 to the eventual winners in the other semi final.
With Muckross their next opponents, in tomorrow's Leinster League match at Rathdown School, Wortmann may be anxious for Trinity to keep their celebrations to a minimum. The match of the day should be the meeting of division one leaders - Loreto, who have yet to drop a point, and fourth placed Hermes.
"We can't afford to lose whatever happens," said Hermes manager Joan Morgan of the game at Belfield. "I'm not saying the league would be all over - there's still a long way to go - but losing would just allow Loreto and Muckross to pull away. If we can beat them, it would open the championship up into a four team battle between Loreto, ourselves, Muckross and Old Alex."
