Fixtures For--/--/2008

Awards Dinner

The Awards dinner will take place on Saturday the 10th of May at the clubhouse. The price for the night is only £10 per person. Everyone is requested to be at the club for 7-30pm.

Second XI Promoted

Saintfield mens second XI are now officially promoted into Junior 6. Having completed their fixtures for the season they are now playing a waiting game to see if they have won the league, as North Down 5th XI still have two games left to play and can finish on the same points as the seconds. Well done to everyone on the seconds and everyone else in the club who worked hard all season to ensure we get a better quality of hockey next season.

AGM

The hockey club AGM took place last night (Thursday 24/04/08) there was a reasonable turn out of members. The new committee for the 2008/09 season is as follows:-

• Chairman - Jackie McCarrol
• Secretary - Paul Fenton
• Treasurer - Lawrence Murphy
• Match Secretary - Davy Hobbs
• 1st XI Captain - Matt Owen
• 1st XI Vice Captain - Nigel Jackson
• 2nd XI Captain - Bertie Hamilton
• 2nd XI Vice Captain - Marty Johnston
• Coach - Lawrence Murphy
• Press Officer 1st XI - Graeme Finlay
• Press Officer 2nd XI - Marty Johnston
• Committee member - Adam Thompson
• Committee member - Aaron Kearney
• Committee member - George Buchannon
• Committee member - Lance Walker
• Committee member - Thomas Gordon

I would just like to express thanks on behalf of the club to the committee who have worked hard all year round to keep the club running smothly. I would also like to thank Chris telford who has done a fantastic job as club secretary for the past two seasons but has had to step down due to other commitments. I would also like to wish the new committee good luck for next season.

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Match Reports

Saintfield 3
Armagh 2

SAINTFIELD are on the verge of senior cup glory.
They produced a magnificent performance in last week's semi-final against Armagh to set up a meeting against the PSNI in what should be a cracking final.
Matt Owen's side was up for the game and there were two key moments in the second period which booked The Demesne outfit its place in the cup final.
The first came in the 50th minute when striker, Gareth Lennon, produced a spectacular strike which saw the ball fly high into the net to give his side a 3-1 lead.
While the visitors pulled one goal back in the closing stages, they were denied the opportunity of possibly forcing extra time by Saintfield's experienced goalkeeper, Graeme Finlay.
He produced an instinctive point blank save to deny Philip Hutton with less than two minutes to go. The save was crucial and while Armagh tried to muster one last effort, Saintfield deservedly hung on to book their place in the final.
An inspired rallying call by the experienced Richard Owens before the semi-final worked a treat. Reminding his players that Armagh scored nine goals past Saintfield two weeks earlier, in a match which effectively ended their Senior Two title hopes, Owens made it cleat that wouldn't be happening again.
In fact it was Owens who led by example throughout, breaking up an Armagh attack in the first minute before sending the impressive Lance Walker scampering away down the right wing. Walker was superb on the night with his dazzling runs and close control causing problems for the Armagh defenders.
Lennon tested the Armagh 'keeper with a snap shot in the third minute while at the other end, Owen cleared a dangerous ball which was attempting to pick out Armagh dangerman, Gregory Croft, who was well policed on the night by Sammy Davidson.
Saintfield full backs, Alan Buchanan and Chris Telford, played well; they stuck to their men and produced a number of timely interventions and alongside Davidson and Nigel Jackson provided a tight defensive unit, keeping a close eye on Croft and his strike partner, Howard Quinn.
Finlay had to be alert to produce a kicked clearance in the sixth minute but, surprisingly, it was the only meaningful thing he had to do in the first half. Armagh were awarded their first short corner in the seventh minute but Ainsley McRoberts shot flew wide.
Walker then came into the game and his pace down the right flank was the main outlet for the home side's attacking intentions. Twice in two minutes he skinned his markers to whip dangerous crosses in to the penalty area.
Saintfield opened the scoring in the 16th minute after being awarded a free on the edge of the penalty area. Owens drilled the ball into the danger area and Owen got a touch on the ball before it flew into the net.
Davy Warnock then produced a smart tackle to stop Owens driving forward while Croft missed two good chances at the other end.
Jackson's short corner effort bounced wide in the 27th minute before Telford swooped to clear from Croft who was setting his sights on goal.
With four minutes until the interval, Saintfield doubled their advantage after Lennon won a short corner which saw Owens go close. Skipper Owen then drilled the ball into the penalty area and Walker ghosted in on the blind side of the defenders to score his 14th goal of the season and give his side a 2-0 lead.
With less than two minutes to go, Armagh pulled one back from a short corner when McRoberts finally got his range finder working and he crashed the ball past Finlay.
Saintfield continued to spread the ball about at the start of the second half and with the defence keeping things tight, they went in search of another goal.
It came from Lennon in the 51st minute just after Owens saw a lofted shot from a short corner easily saved by the 'keeper. The home side's third came when Owen's left wing cross picked out Lennon who struck the ball on the half volley into the ground where it kicked up off the surface into the top corner of the net.
Armagh rallied to score again to make it 3-2 and then Finlay produced that superb point-blank save to book his side a place in the final of a competition they last appeared in two years ago.
Saintfield were magnificent on the night and deserve to take their place in the cup final at Lisnagarvey on April 19.
Saintfield: Graeme Finlay, Alan Buchanan, Nigel Jackson, Sammy Davidson, Chris Telford, Matt Owen, Richard Owens, Conor Ferguson, Lance Walker, Thomas Gordon, Gareth Lennon. Sub: Ian Weir.

PSNI 2
Saintfield 3

SAINTFIELD emerged victorious after this dress rehearsal for this weekend's Senior Two Cup final.
Matt Owen's side can now finish runners-up behind Armagh if, as expected, they see off Omagh and Ballymena respectively to complete what has been a truly memorable season.
Following last Wednesday night's cup semi-final win over Armagh, Saintfield went into the league game in confident mood and took the lead in the seventh minute when Richard Owens, who has been in superb form all season, drilled home a short corner strike which gave the 'keeper no chance.
The locals, who were missing Nigel Jackson, Alan Buchanan and Conor Ferguson, showed the synthetic surface holds no fear for them. Saints 'keeper, Graeme Finlay, had to make a few routine saves early on and towards the end of the half had to be alert.
Saintfield went 2-0 ahead through Gareth Lennon who has had another great season and he was unlucky not to put his side 3-0 ahead moments later; he was denied by the 'keeper.
Willie Heaney was replaced by Lawrence Murphy in the second period and while the visitors were keen to increase their advantage, they struggled to clear their lines and gave away possession too easily. They also conceded a number of short corners which Finlay was forced to save.
The PSNI pulled a goal back in the 50th minute, but any hopes of a major fight back were ruined by the mercurial Lance Walker.
Fresh from terrorising Armagh in last Wednesday's cup semi, he was again one of Saintfield's tormentors in chief and scored a brilliant third goal.
Racing in on goal with just the 'keeper to beat, he had the assurance and confidence to lift the ball over the netminder's head into the net for a brilliant finish.
The PSNI rallied to make it 3-2 and then hit the post, with Finlay making a number of terrific saves in between. At one stage he made three blocks in quick succession to preserve his side's slender advantage and ensure they remain on course for the runners-up spot.
The PSNI also hit the post, but it was to be Saintfield's day and the three points they picked up should ensure they finish in second spot. Had it not been for dropped points away to Armagh and at home to the PSNI, it's a case of what might have been.
Next season they will again lock horns with Down and while the Malone Park outfit is keen to get back into Senior One, Saintfield will certainly have something to say about that. They are much stronger outfit than last season and with victories over the PSNI and Armagh under their belts in recent weeks, they certainly are no pushover.

Saintfield II   4 
Ballymena II 1

Saintfield took one step closer towards promotion into junior 6 with this comprehensive win over Ballymena 2nd XI, who have been tight on the heels of the top 3 in junior 7 all season waiting for someone to slip up.
The Saintfield players went into the game knowing that nothing but two points would do to help secure a spot in junior 6 for next season.
Saintfield started the stronger of the two teams piling the pressure onto the visitors but Ballymena fought back hard and essentially for the first fifteen minutes the game had “scoreless draw” written all over it.
The first goal of the game came after Saintfield made their first substitution. Ian Weir’s cross found Connor Ferguson unmarked in the circle and his shot which was virtually his first touch of the match flew past the ‘keeper leaving him no chance.
This spurred on Saintfield who pushed even harder to increase their advantage but several chances from Weir, Ferguson and Lance walker went begging. The visitors mounted several counter attacks but were unable to break through the tough Saintfield defence.
With only five minutes left of the half Saintfield managed to double their advantage. This time the roles were reversed and Ian Weir was the man on hand to fire one in for Saintfield. Some fantastic build up play and an inch perfect pass from Ferguson found Weir who fired the ball past the Ballymena net-minder.
In the second half Saintfield made more changes in fact they kept rotating players right through the half, which seemed to confuse Ballymena. But it was the visitors who were next to score as the had a lucky break after a Saintfield defender’s attempted stop only deflected the ball to one of the Ballymena midfielders. Johnston slid out to clear his cross but the ball deflected to one of the Ballymena forwards who flicked the ball over the grounded ‘keeper, but this was to be the last of Ballymena’s chances as Saintfield tightened things up at the back once more and continued to drive forward in search of another goal.
It was fifteen minutes into the second half when this happened after some excellent build up play from skipper Bertie Hamilton and Steven Tate. Hamilton’s pass found walker who worked the ball into the circle beating several tackles and he fired the ball past the ‘keeper with ease.
Saintfield drove on trying to put the game to bed and this almost happened seconds later but Connor Patterson’s shot was well saved by the Ballymena ‘keeper.
With ten minutes left in the half the Demesne side got their breakthrough. Stephen Tate worked the ball into the circle through a very tired Ballymena defence and unleashed an unstoppable shot high into the net giving Saintfield their fourth.
Saintfield came close in the dying minutes but efforts from Walker, Patterson, Ferguson and Tate failed to find the back of the net and the clock ran out for Saintfield giving them two more vital promotion points.

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Saintfield Junior Hockey

Lisnagarvey U14   4
Saintfield U14       5

Saintfield Juniors put in a superb performance to reduce a 2 nil deficit and turn it into victory. In a pulsating game Lucy Geddes claimed a hat trick and Kerry Bowsie added 2 as the local youngsters came away victorious 5 goals to 4.
Saints suffered an early setback in the 3rd minute when Garvey moved into the lead. Keeper Lauren Whitley had made a super block at the near post but lost sight of the ball, as it spun in around her feet, to be able to clear her line and the forward responded quickly for an easy tap in. Worst was to come for the locals when 5 minutes later Garvey added a 2nd as the Saints struggled to clear the area. However they were not disheartened and gradually worked their way into the game. Geddes was full of running in midfield and although Bowsie was centre forward she did her share of defending to ensure that her team didn’t go further behind. Julie Ann Brown made a fine clearance picking out Geddes in midfield who showed close control and speed to get to the circle but her effort went narrowly wide. Saints pressed well and regained control and again Geddes hit the byline and pulled her pass in front of goal where Bowsie was on hand to touch in from close range. Defensively Saints remained strong with Catherine Burns and Brown working well together to avert any danger. Saints drew level in the 17th min when Geddes and Bowsie set up an identical goal. They took the lead when good team work saw the ball worked out from the back and Geddes unleashed an early shot from the edge of the circle. This advantage was quickly cancelled out when Garvey gained a free near the edge. The locals failed to pick up a free player who was able to reach the back line and pull the ball back and despite a fine block from Whitley the rebound was eventually nudged home in a goalmouth melee. Saints defended several short corners real with Geddes out quick to close down the strike.
In the 2nd period Saints increased their work rate, ensuring that no Garvey player was given space to run. Lindsay McNamara and Kelly Sofley were consistent in the middle and with Molly Keers full of running Saints put Garvey on the back foot. Bowsie who usually plays on the forward line continued to impressed in the midfield both in a defensive and attacking role.  Quick exchanges between Hannah Morrow and Geddes put Saints back in front when the latter netted with a strike from a narrow angle. The locals could have been further ahead but for the post when Laura McIwrath collected a pass from midfield. Her follow up play failed to produce the goal as she then saw the ball cleared of the line. Saints rode their luck when Garvey also saw the ball bounce of the post. Cherith Hanna made a quick clearance to pur Sofely away down the wing and she linked well with Geddes whose through ball saw Morrow give chase but the she was unable to gain control of the pass. Again Saints pressed well allowing Garvey no time to settle and Geddes earned her hat trick with a well angled shot which went in at the far post. In the final minute Garvey pulled back another goal when the ball took a wicked deflection lifting high into the goals.

Saints Squad: L Whitley, C Burns, JA Brown, L McNamara, K Sofley, H Morrow, L Geddes, C Hanna, L McIlwrath, M Keers, K Bowsie

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