Senior Hockey Cup titles for Monkstown and Banbridge

Monkstown and Banbridge were crowned the respective winners of the 2023 Senior Hockey Cup finals at UCD.

Women's Irish Senior Cup final

Monkstown 3 Catholic Institute 1

Defending champions Catholic Institute ended up surrendering their Irish Senior Cup title after a closely fought encounter with Monkstown, who took home the women's title for the first time.

Monkstown began the game well and forced an early penalty corner which did not produce the opening goal however. Aoife Hickey received a green card in the 12th minute but not even this temporary reduction to 10 players could break the deadlock.

In a quarter with lots of end-to-end play it was Catholic Institute who took the lead from open play in the 18th minute through Rebecca Barry.

Insta carried their 1-0 lead well into the second quarter until the final minute when Monkstown got on the scoresheet. Natasha Twomey got Monkstown back level with a field goal before half time. Missing their Irish Internationals, Roisin Upton and Naomi Carroll who were not available, Institute battled hard.

In the third quarter Monkstown took the lead and it came from a set piece. Monkstown had forced numerous penalty corners in succession and been repelled repeatedly by the Institute defence.

Eventually Chloe Watkins found Sara Twomey who converted, following a penalty corner on 34 minutes to give Monkstown a 2-1 lead at half time. Despite pressure from Institute, Monkstown weathered the storm and increased their lead in the final quarter when Emily Kealy converted another penalty corner in the 68th minute.

Monkstown: Martina Duignan, Emily Kealy, Sophie Moore, Jennifer Hamill, Claire O'Reilly, Rebecca Carhy, Sara Twomey, Natasha Twomey, Aoibhin Murdoch, Suzie Kelly, Olivia Brady, Millie