Hockey Leinster Schools' Senior Cup FinalSt Andrew's College 3 Wesley College 1 Spearheaded by the accomplished Alan Sothern, who struck twice in the opening three minutes, St Andrew's retained sufficient momentum to beat the holders, Wesley, 3-1, in the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup final at Grange Road yesterday.
In adding to previous successes in 1996 and 1998, St Andrew's now hope that their girls' team can complete a double for the school by winning today's senior decider against Alexandra College.
Sothern whipped a drag flick to the net in the first minute and he scored again from a short corner to make it 2-0 before Wesley - without their captain Andrew McConnell through injury - could get a grip on their task. They fought back for Henry Micks to score from a corner and they might well have equalised but for a couple of fine saves by Richard Irvine before half-time.
It seemed Wesley still had the capabilities of making further impact in the second half but it was St Andrew's, with Alastair Haughton, David Loughrey and Paul Hammond to the fore, who became dominant and were rewarded with a third goal in the closing minutes. This time, from open play, Sothern surged into the circle for the industrious Ross Wyse to direct the ball home.
In the Minor Cup final, Wesley carried off the trophy for the eighth time in a row, edging out King's Hospital, 1-0, through a first-half set-piece goal by Karl Smith.
Although Wesley were the slicker side, King's Hospital played with plenty of spirit and would have levelled matters but for a dextrous clearance off the line by Clive Hennessy from Ben Ackland. The game was also notable for a penalty stroke save by Paddy Prendergast from Brian Doherty when Wesley asserted themselves.
The most chuffed supporters at Grange Road yesterday were Eddie and Marjory Blackstock who had a grandson on each of the winning sides - Robert Lewis of St Andrew's and Wesley's Kyle Good.
ST ANDREW'S: R Irvine; J Fry, G Groves, A Haughton, D Loughrey; R McFarlane (capt), T Lewis, P Hammond; R Wyse, A Sothern, R Lewis. Subs:D McFarlane, J Kirwan. Coach: I Ovington.
WESLEY: I Walker; S Macken (capt); S Walker, S Roche, C Pelow; H Micks, D Walker, C Von Oldenburg; M Darling, S Evans, O Goodman. Subs: R Meridith, S McDonnell. Coach:, B Delany.
Umpires: J Girdham, K Eppel.
Player of the match: A Sothern.
WESLEY (under-14): P Cummins; M English, R Pedreschi, C Hennessy, K Chappel, B Doherty, G Walker, G McDonnell, K Good, J Dalrymple, K Smith. Sub: R King.
KING'S HOSPITAL: P Prendergast; K Collopy, I Wahlrab, J McDonnell (capt), C Armstrong, A Robles, G Moran, B Ackland, C Treacy, N Foster, A Maher. Subs: G Murphy, P Barton.
Umpires: E English, P Coady.
Player of the match: G Walker.
