Ballymena ladies are best of the vets!

Both sides were almost unknown to each other so spent the first five minutes eyeing each other up. However, it was Derg Valley who made the first surge for goal as keeper Elaine Hamill was called upon twice to block but it also became obvious to Ballymena who their opponents key players were.

The County Tyrone side relied on long hard hits to their forwards but it wasn’t long before Ballymena found position and the defence began to intercept every pass.

Denise Magill linked well up front on the right with Judith Doyle, as Magill used her cool head to work the ball around oncoming players, then Doyle’s quick feet and hard crosses eagerly sought out team mates within the circle.

The opposing defence were made to work as Jackie McWilliams ran them ragged with her skill and strength, backed up by her ‘twin’, Grace Henry who twirled her way through an array of players.

Ballymena’s speed machine, Sally-Ann Roddy, worked hard at finding freedom on the left for her infamous runs and Lorna Murphy continually ran into the correct position for crossed balls, waiting patiently for the right connection.

It wasn’t all Ballymena though, as Derg always posed a threat and at times the game was very much 50/50 with all players having to remain focused. Some relief came as Murphy opened the scoring through a goal mouth attack, despite the best efforts of the keeper but there were just too many green players to allow a clearance.

Going into the second half at only a goal up, meant no relaxation as Ballymena looked for another goal. In the first half McWilliams failed to find her swing but made no mistake when given another opportunity from a penalty corner, the ball ricocheting off a defender’s stick much to the delight of the strong Ballymena supporters.

Ballymena finished on a high, first with a stunning trade mark goal by Roddy as she fired in after a sprint along the bye-line, then by a Henry penalty corner shot.

Henry had only one thing on her mind when she received the ball and it clearly meant a lot to her, as she punched the air to the cheers of the onlooking crowd.

Captain Carolyn Heron, Jenny Donald and Kellie Greer, who all made an appearance towards the end, continued with the same commendable style by those they replaced, proving the size and strength of the squad that Ballymena are fortunate to have.

Thanks went to Cookstown Hockey Club for accommodating both teams in the use of the neutral venue.

Vice-president of the Ulster Hockey Union, Pat Hall, presented delighted Carolyn Heron with the cup. “The whole squad has been wonderful to work with,” said Ballymena’s captain.

“Some of our veterans couldn’t make it tonight but this cup belongs to all of us, including Trevor Topping, our faithful umpire, and the supporters who have turned up faithfully throughout the year.”

What is normally a seven month hockey season has ended up a long ten month slog for some senior players, but with two trophies in the cabinet courtesy of this mighty team, it has been well worth it!

Ballymena: Elaine Hamill, Mary Glass, Sandra Dallas, Eleanor Houston, Grace Henry, Shauna Boyd, Jackie McWilliams, Judith Doyle, Sally-Ann Roddy, Denise Magill, Lorna Murphy, Carolyn Heron, Kellie Greer, Jenny Donald.