Senior & Minor Hockey

On Thursday, March 2nd, Loreto Clonmel’s minor and senior hockey teams had two victorious wins over Villiers, Co. Limerick. Our minor and senior teams travelled to the Canon Hayes Sports Centre in Tipperary town to play their opposing team. The day kicked off with our minor team stealing the show having won 8 goals to 1. This was a fantastic performance by all involved. Goals came from Veerle Van der Wal, Lauren, Ava Russell and of course Avril Goeghegan who played a stormer having scored 4 of the 8 goals to see Loreto Clonmel as rightful winners. The Senior team also had an excellent win against the Limerick team with a 5-1 win. The girls’ sheer determination and commitment was the result of their success on the day. All players put in a phenomenal effort from start to finish with great support coming from players like Sarah Garrett, Beth Fitzpatrick and Lizzie Ryan. Coming to the end of this year’s minor and senior hockey leagues, our minors have been undefeated to date and our senior team have also won the majority of their games. Well done to all involved. Loreto Clonmel Abú!

First Year Hockey Blitz

On Wednesday, 15th February, two first year hockey teams travelled to Bandon Grammar School in county Cork for a day long blitz. Both teams played a minimum of four games against schools including Coláiste na Toirbhirte Bandon, Christ the King Secondary School, Regina Mundi, Intermediate Killorglin, Ashton School, Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig, and Bandon Grammar School. After some very close matches Loreto Clonmel succeeded in winning the tournament and their win underlines how much they have improved. The girls are very committed to training and this result was just reward for all their hard work.

The following players travelled with Ms Naughton and Ms Hally to Bandon: Jess Caron, Doireann O’Sullivan, Aislinn Callery, Eimear Bates, Abbey Boland, Emma Corbett, Saoirse Keating, Rachel Cooke, Ella Gerard, Áine Millea, Katy Judge, Tara McGrath,Niamh Smith, Triona Ryan, Kayla Grogan Tuohy, Ciara Griffin, Casey Cronin-Hackett, Katie Burke, Ellie Kennedy, Aoife Campion, Katie Sullivan.

Many thanks to Mr. Ryan and Ms. Naughton for all the hard work they have put into coaching the girls,and to TY assistants Amy Fitzpatrick and Lorraine Dunne who have helped to facilitate training since the beginning of the year.

First year Hockey

Our First Year hockey players for 2016/17

Minor Hockey

The Loreto Minor hockey team travelled to Tipperary town to play Castletroy on Tuesday 1st December. This was their first league match of the season and had been training diligently with Ger Boland (coach). Straight after half time, Loreto were dominating the play and determined to score. There were four short corners taken in the second half but unfortunately none of them turned into goals. Midfielders were playing very well, constantly forcing the play up the pitch and supplying great ball to the forwards. There were many goal chances for Loreto, but the game ended 0-0. Loreto girls were extremely disappointed but played an excellent game and never gave up. They have a very busy schedule ahead with their next match on Monday 14th December and January 15th. The team was accompanied by Ms. Kirby and Ger Boland (coach).

Back Row: L – R: Ms. A.M. Kirby (Coach), Aisling Keenan, Miriam Looby, Erin Mitten, Kelly Joyce, Veerle Van de Verle, Kaitlyn Hewitt, Collette Looby, Ciara Corbett, Aisling Hunt, Karen Meehan.

Front Row : L – R: Avril Geoghegan, Kellyann Hogan, Brigita Valuntaite, Anna Morris, Molly Coffey, Cliodhna Power, Lauren Hurley, Caoimhe Maunsell, Ava Russell.

Junior Hockey

The Junior hockey team has played three league matches, with two great wins and one narrow defeat. The first game was played in Tipperary Town against St Anne’s on Thursday 5th November, where we won 6-0 in very impressive fashion. Then the team travelled to Limerick to play Villers on Friday 13th November and on this occasion they went on to win the match 3-1. Most recently the team played Castletroy Community School in Tipperary on Tuesday 1st December. This was a very tough and close encounter where both teams were very competitive from the opening whistle. Loreto fell behind early on but were well on top as the game progressed. We had the majority of possession in the second half but were unable to get the decisive score. However, it was an excellent team performance and Loreto Juniors are well place to win the League this year. Great credit to the coaching team of Ger Boland, Ms. Kirby and Ms Hally.

Back Row: L – R: Ms. A.M. Kirby (Coach), Cliodhna Power, Caoimhe Maunsell, Fionnuala Sheehan,

Lizzie Ryan, Simone Heneghan, Chloe Mullen, Avril Geoghegan, Jessica Morris, Karen Meehan, Miss L. Hally (Coach)

Front Row: L – R: Fiona Kennedy, Kellyann Hogan, Brigitta Valuntaite, Anna Morris, Rachel Maher, Sara Hickey, Amy Fitzpatrick, Lorraine Dunne, Ide Browne.

Senior Hockey

Our Senior Hockey team stands proudly on top of the League Table after recording three successive victories. This year we have a very strong panel of players and with Ms Emma Smith as Coach the girls are playing with great skill and no little determination.

They beat Presentation Thurles 2- 1 in their opening game in Rockwell on November 5th. This provided the impetus to put in a very strong performance one week later in Tipperary, when they beat St Annes’s on a scoreline of 6 nil. They then went on to beat a very physical Villiers team by 3 goals to 2 in a tense and close encounter in Villiers and this now puts them in pole position as they eye up Laurel Collaiste and Castletroy early in the New Year. These games will surely determine the winner of this year’s competition.

Special tribute must go to the 6th Year players, who show great leadership for the team and especially the ever reliable, skillful and enthusiastic captain, Megan Shanahan.

Back Row : L – R: Ellen Butler, Lizzie Ryan, Aisling Deeley, Sarah McDermott, Evrena Everard, Sorcha O’Gorman, Aoife Hayes, Fionnuala Hoctor, Ms. E. Smith (Coach)

Front Row : L – R: Beth Fitzpatrick, Robyn Boland, Robyn Whiteley, Megan Shanahan, Eimear O’Donoghue, Sarah Hickey, Eadaoin O’Sullivan, Sarah Garrett.

Munster U16 Hockey

Congratulations to Avril Geoghegan for making the Munster U16 hockey panel. She will be training hard with them all summer and we wish her the best of luck. 

Hockey news

Minor Hockey Report

What a year, what a campaign, what a season. They came together in September coached by Ger Boland to participate in the newly formed Munster minor league, which is a team made up of First years and Second years. The minor team trained twice a week. The first game of the season was against Laurel Hill College which was a massive beginning to the season winning 11-0. Heading into the second game the team bonded well under the captaincy of Anna Morris and went on to beat Castletroy 5-0. Loreto’s next game was away to Ursulines Thurles, this was the toughest challenge they faced this year, leading 1-0 at halftime. In the second half the Ursulines equalised against the run of play, finishing 1-1.

This undefeated Minor team went onto winning there next two games against Ard Scoil Mhuire (6-0) and Crescent (9-0). This was a superb ending to the year, winning the Munster Minor league for the first time.

Well done to Anna Morris, Kelly Ann Hogan, Caoimhe Maunsel, Brigita Va and Avril Geoghegan who got chosen to represent our school in the under 16 Munster hockey trials and also well done to Avril Geoghegan who made it onto the under 16 Munster hockey training panel.

By Robyn Boland

Junior Hockey Team

The Loreto Junior Hockey team made up of first years, Second years, Third years and Transition years began the season with plenty of enthusiasm and a real buzz, led by there captain Lizzie Ryan.

Training weekly under Ger Boland, this team started the season with a 6-0 win over Presentation Thurles. This team went onto win the next 2 games against Villers (3-0) and Crescent Limerick(2-0).

Overall, they finished second in the Munster league with a 1-0 defeat to Castletroy. Heading into the Munster Cup against Rockwell this team looked promising, they battled hard on a sunny day in January. With everyone pulling out all the stops, with the best hockey of the season being played, Rockwell managed to sneak in one goal past our solid defence. Losing 1-0 to Rockwell was certainly not a true reflection of this team’s performance on the day. Overall the juniors had a fantastic season with plenty of potential for next season. We are hoping to bring home some gold next year.

By Robyn Boland

Senior Hockey

Senior Hockey players with their coach Ms. Emma Smith.