Railway Girls u18 indoor team won the first silverware of the season as they won the Leinster Hockey u18 indoor trophy after a dramatic 1v1 shoot out today at Gormanstown College hosted by Boyne HC.

The girls went through their pool stages unbeaten after comfortable wins against Monkstown, Naas, Bray and Boyne B the girls took on Portrane in the final league match both with 100% records, the match finished 1-1 as Railway equalised late on in a match that Portrane enjoyed more possession and shots on target.

With Portrane finishing top on goal difference ahead of Railway they played Corinthians in their semi-final with the Railway girls taking on Three Rock. Railway took an early lead through Jessica Carroll and were very much the stronger team but lack of composure in the circle prevented them extended the lead and as Three Rock took their GK off Railway missed several chances to book their place in the final and then with 30 seconds left Three Rock equalised.

The 1v1s saw Railway win 1-0 as Chloe Hiles saved all three of the Three Rock 1v1s.
With Portrane winning 5-0 v Corinthian in their semi-final it was the top two ranked teams facing each other which has been a regular occurrence at indoor level with this age group with Railway winning the u14 Leinster indoor title two years ago and last year Portrane defeating Railway to win the u16 Leinster indoor title. With many of the same players playing in the u18 final there was much familiarity between the two sides.

The Portrane girls started brightly and were in the ascendancy winning several short corners that were well defended as Railway withstood the pressure. Railway were playing counter attack indoor hockey with Isabella Willis and Kate Molony resolute in defence and relying on the tireless work rate of Clara Michelle Howard in pivot with Jessica Carroll, Susie Halpin, Dani Mannion and Ruby Morgan rotating in the front two positions. As the match went it was destined to end in a 1v1 shoot out and so it was.

With the highly experienced 1v1 specialist Chloe Hiles in goals and after already going through a shoot-out earlier the girls were very confident. With Chloe saving the first Portrane 1v1 it gave Railway the momentum and they never looked back, whilst their first crossed the line just after time Clara Michelle calmly slotted her shuttle in and then with one round to go Jessica Carroll rounded the keeper and scored for the Railway girls to win the u18 Leinster title for the first time.

The Railway boys were also in action and finish third but just outside the final that saw Corinthian defeating Bray in the final.

Chloe Hiles was awarded the Leinster u18 goalkeeper of the tournament and Cole Hogan of Sandymount Park ETSS & Railway the boys goalkeeper of the tournament. The junior goalkeeper coaching programme can take a lot of credit with coaches Liam McCarthy and Shomik Chakraborty, Ellie McLoughlin and Riona Norton over many many of the previous years too.

Railway girls team:
Chloe Hiles (St Andrews College), Clara Michelle Howard (Holy Child Killiney), Kate Molony (Muckross Park), Katie Hiles (St Andrews College), Ruby Morgan (Teresians)
Danni Mannion (Mt Anville), Jessica Carroll (Mt Anville), Isabella Willis (Muckross Park), Susie Halpin (Muckross Park)

Boys team: Angad Dhami, Jack Fairmaner (St Andrews College), Ian Campbell (Sandford Park), Henry Henchion (Sandford Park), Marcus Carter (St Andrews College), James Boyd (Sandford Park), Aodh Molloy (Sandford Park), Cole Hogan (Sandymount Park ETSS)