Ladies battle back bravely to take point

Pembroke Wanderers 3 – UCD 3

A warm sunny day in HQ, we lined out against the title holders from last season. An intense week of training had us pumped and raring to go from the whistle.
Pushing hard for the first 10-15mins we penetrated the circle numerous times putting a lot of our chances wide. A lapse in concentration and UCD finding their rhythm, 3 goals were blitzed in.

UCD were on top with 5 mins to go until half time. This was enough to wake the camogie warrior Claire ‘Mul’ Mulcahy who drove us with her famous saying ‘You have to step outside your comfort zone and just think outside the box’.
Sophie Marshall embraced this, turning over play on UCD’s 25, beating 3 players and picking out Emma ‘Gaz’ Keilthy in the D. Emma about to be engulfed by defenders calmly slotted in between the keepers legs just before half time whistle was blown.

Newly returned old girl Rachel Scott and newly arrived Sophie Marshall were awarded joint Man of the Match

Inspirational words from Coach Tyrrell and Coach Crawford at half time got our aggression flowing and we were ready for the fight.
UCD didn’t know what hit them. Passes coming together and running confusing the defenders we got our first short corner. A finely tuned shortie, Scotty caned the ball at Jilly who deflected over the keeper and into the back of the net. 3-2. The Pembroke Train was in motion with Maebh Horan driving and we were going full steam ahead. With UCD confused as to what was happening Hora turned over ball in the centre of the field and powered ahead. Laying the ball off to the right, Jilly picked out Sophie who crashed the ball into Scotty in the circle. Scotty wrong footed the keeper and breezed the ball into left corner. She let out her new Pembroke Tribal call and we flocked to celebrate. 3-3. We kept it tight knowing that any wrong movement could give UCD a chance.

With our third short corner won the final whistle was blown. Sharon, who’s pull out had been electric all day, was ready and poised. Just as she pulled the ball a worm popped out of the turf and stopped the ball dead in it’s tracks. Catching attack and defence off guard, UCD got to the ball first and the final whistle was blown.

With a great team performance in the second half we have our first point of the season lying in 6th place. It just shows that a little will power and inspirational speeches can go a long way. With a weekend break to enjoy Oktoberfest in the Clubhouse this Saturday, our next game will be away to Loreto on the 6th Oct.

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