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Railway Women record Euro Hockey League win
Railway defeat Ukranian champions MSC Sumchanka 1-0
Railway womens 1sts recorded Ireland first ever victory at an EHL finals tournament by defeating MSC Sumchanka from Ukraine 1-0 in their ranking match.
Railway lost 4-0 against Dutch champions SCHC on Wednesday but competed extremely well and should have taken the lead early on with several very good close in chances and penalty corners, a 2 nil deficit at half time proved too much and the Dutch added two further goals despite the best efforts of the Railway girls who can be very proud of their performance given the gulf at club level between the respective national leagues in Holland and Ireland.
In their final ranking game it was an evenly contested first half against a tough opponent MSC Sumchanka featuring most of the Ukrainian womens national team albeit their goalkeeper was the busier in the first half as Railway failed to convert several good opportunities.
Early in the second half a well worked short corner slipped left and Jenny Long's sweep shot evaded the Railway deflections and the Ukranian goalkeeper to give Railway a well deserved lead. The goal gave the Dublin team more confidence and in truth they should have extended their lead hitting the post and missing 3 or 4 gilt edged opportunities to settle the match. With only a one goal margin MSC Sumchanka had some circle entries in the final quarter but could not create an opportunity to level the tie and Railway managed out the final few minutes to win 1-0
Railway's short corner goal !
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdY6gCFU/
Euro Hockey league player of the match was awarded to Sarah Hawkshaw
In this new womens competition format with 8 of the 12 womens teams compete to qualify through to the final 8 tournament Railway and MSC Sumchanka now don't have any further tournament matches. It is something that Euro Hockey League administrators should consider going forward the cost to teams from countries like Ireland and Ukraine to travel for two matches particularly when the mens tournament operates a different format and definitely does not feel "equally amazing".
Railway supporters and players attention over the next few days, as they have to remain at the tournament, will now turn to the last "Railway" interest in the competition supporting Niamh and Michelle Carey who would have helped Railway qualify for the EHL but not play for Belgium's Braxgata and who take on Dusseldorfer HC on Saturday.
A big thanks to Womens 1sts sponsor Capital Flow who supported the girls ahead of this tournament, and to Wolfhound and Elk sustainable sports kit partner for providing the girls with their new EHL kit that looked fantastic in both the matches.