Second 'Hockey for all' Blitz hosted by Loreto Hockey Club

There was great excitement in Beaufort on Sunday 22nd January last when over ninety schoolchildren from 3rd & 4th class of Loreto Primary School, Grange Road took part in a ‘Hockey for all’ Blitz hosted by Loreto HC.

Niamh Small dropped in for a Meet & Greet!

All teams that took part in the ‘Hockey Blitz’ were very well prepared by their not one, but two Managers. The standard of hockey played by the children was excellent and the eagerness of the children taking part was clear for all to see. It was great also to see so many of the players parent’s stay for the duration of the Blitz to give encouragement and vocal support to the children.

Indeed the girls on the Black Team or the ‘All Blacks’ as they called themselves were so excited about playing in the tournament that they actually performed a very well timed and well rehearsed ‘HAKA’ against all their opposition!! – (see photo’s).

All nine teams played a series of Round Robin matches that eventually led to the Orange Team (Captained by Aoife Fenlon) and the Black Team (Captained by Oonagh Delargy) making it through to the ‘Big Final’. The Final turned out to be a superb advertisement for Junior Hockey with both teams really giving their all. There was great skills and determination on show by both teams as well as very brave defending. The Orange Team (Managed by Evan O’Connor & Paula Daly) scored early in the final to take a one nil lead. But a minute later the Black Team (Managed by Rachel McCreery & Elizabeth Coughlan) got a goal to level the game. The winning goal was scored by the Orange team after superb skill by demonstrated by Emily Kealy and Hollyn Kennedy.[nggallery id=4]

Megan Walsh who played outstanding for her Green Team in their Round Robin matches caught the eye of the judges and was awarded the “Player of the Tournament” trophy. Another great highlight on the day was the arrival of Loreto’s Irish Hockey International Player Niamh Small (Smallie) who kindly dropped in to support this event. Smallie did a ‘Meet and Greet’ session with all the children, answered all sorts of questions, signed endless autographs on hockey sticks, not to mention lots of photos with the teams and their managers.

Many thanks to both Noreen O’Riordan and Fiona Smith, who managed the Kitchen for the afternoon making endless cups of tea & coffee for all the parents and grandparents who came to support. The ‘Hockey for all’ Blitz was so successful, that the Club are planning to run a 3rd Blitz on Sunday 5th Feb next, when it will be turn of the children from 1st & 2nd class to have the fun.