Wed 25.1.12
2nd v Corinthians HOME 8.15 

Thurs 26.1.12
2nd v Hermes AWAY 8.15 (St Andrews) 

Sat 28.1.12
1st v Glenanne HOME 4
4th v Diocesan AWAY 4
5th v Genesis 4th HOME 1.15 Sand
6th v Naas 3rd HOME 2.45 Sand.

Sun 29.1.12
1st v Corinthians IN JPC AWAY 1
6th v Skerries AWAY 2

1sts lost to Railway 1-2 (Emma Russell)
A deflected effort 20 seconds from time saw Railway Union keep pace at the top of the division as Sinead Dooley’s deflected effort saw them get out of jail against Old Alex. The Milltown hosts went in front a mere 12 seconds into the second period as Alex worked the ball forward straight from the tip off with Erika Hinkson’s touch playing in Emma Russell who won the foot-race to the ball before the Railway goalkeeper and scored. Dooley put her side in level with a neat touch by her right foot to Kate Lloyd’s cross. Hinkson, Roisin Flinn and Emily Beatty all had chances on the counter while the visitors bossed regular play and had five corners to their name. From the fifth, Dooley shot to the far post with Cecelia Joyce waiting but a defender’s stick got a touch to give Pam Smithwick little chance to readjust.
[From The Hook]

2nds beat UCD 1-0 (Hannah McDermott)
With a much needed three points up for grabs, the old Alex crew ventured to UCD for what they knew was to be a tough match. As the game tipped off, we soon forgot about the cold conditions. Both teams started at a ferocious pace and the ball ping ponged from either end. After this initial burst of energy, the Alex side took control of the game. With strong performances from all, awesome skills from anya and a great goal from Hannah set up by Millie, Alex came away with the win. Well done folks, splendid win!

3rds beat Swords 6-3 (Libby x2, Alison x2, Rachel Gray, Yvonne)

Alex continued their good form and winning ways this Saturday with a comprehensive 6-3 win over Swords. With only 11 players and a 9.30 start, it was going to be a tough task to get points from this strong team but Alex would not let this deter them. A similar game plan as last week was adopted which worked very effectively from the start. Alex had a lot of possession and were moving the ball well around the field. Some loose defending allowed Swords in for an easy early goal. Alex did not let this affect their play and put a number of attacking moves together. This pressure resulted in Alex's first goal. Libby Simington reacted quickly to a crash ball into the D to touch the ball into the back of the net. A similar move gave Libby her second of the match soon after.

Alex were dominating the game. Their quick movement of the ball and support play meant Swords could not get much time on the ball. Another attack into the D saw the goalie make a good save but Alison Maher was on hand for the rebound. Rachel Grey increased her goal tally in this half with a great run into the D and a powerful shot from the top of the D. Alex were well on top now but were in  danger of getting complacent and Swords took advantage of this, winning two short corners as half time approached. The second corner resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded for Swords. Emma Mee Hayes came to the rescue with a great save. This was a big boost for Alex going into the break. Carl emphasised the need for concentration and strong defending in the second half.

Swords came out strong and were attacking more but good defensive play and strong tackles kept the scoreline the same. Alex were again on target after 15 minutes with Alison reacting to a saved shot and finishing well for her second of the game. Swords never gave up and an attack from a long corner gave them their second goal. It was a soft goal for Alex to concede. Yvonne Veale was causing the Swords defense lots of trouble all morning and  her player of the match performance was rewarded with a great individual goal soon after. Great control and skill saw her beat three defenders in the D and her shot was too strong for the goalie to save. Alex were soon in the D again but Swords defended well and their  clearance saw them break quickly down the wing. This ended in a third goal for Swords. Alex kept possession and moved the ball around well as the game came to a close. There was great excitement as well as tired bodies when the final whistle went. Alex have two weeks until their next game where they will be aiming to keep this winning steak going and move up the table. Well done to all for a great team performance.   Eimear

4ths beat UCD 2-0 (Lara Dungan, Carol Fitzroy)

Cold, rain and gale force winds…just the kind of weather conditions the 4ths love to play in (or so it seems). Today saw the team produce their best performance of the season to take all three points against the young ones.

From the starting whistle the team looked like they were well up for today’s game against the table toppers.  Early on we looked steady at the back and absorbed some early pressure. Jen played some great balls out of the back and about half way through the first half an inspired call leads to Jen playing a ball out to Amy (of the McCoys) who spots the gap and sees our own version of Speedy Gonzales, Lara Dungan, lurking high on the left. McCoy plays a beautiful ball through for her to run onto. She takes it into the D, just her and the keeper, Lara prods it past her to put us 1-0 up.

The team continued to work hard, with Rachael and Rachel putting in great work on the right and Brenda appearing EVERYWHERE! The defence worked as a solid unit, with Julie and Laura covering back with their usual grit and determination. Channeling and flat stick tackles were the order of the day and took us in 1-0 up at half time. Our half time team talk was as modest as ever, basically ‘you guys rocked out there but keep up the hard work and keep playing them onto Carol (no pressure there then, Cheers Ronan).

The second half saw the students apply further pressure and we were fortunate not to concede. Vicky produced some more epic saves and Laura took one off the line to keep us in front. Some time in the middle of the half, a pass was made through for Lara to run onto yet again…it was her against the keeper one-on-one, it seemed to go in slow motion…who was gonna make it first…..THE KEEPER…but wait, she came outside the D, kicked Lara’s stick (perhaps revenge for her goal in the first half) and stopped her getting the ball. What’s the official rule on this? We weren’t so sure; free in, penalty corner, stroke? The umpires decided on a penalty corner.

Carol steps up from the back to push out. Jen Moore plays a beautiful dummy at the top of the D to let the ball go back to Lara on the 25 (yeah right we don’t need back up Ro!) She plays it back into D where, for once, Carol has remembered to move her ass after pushing in the corner. There she is, middle of D, she sweeps, she scores!!!! 2-0 Alex. Carol squeals in surprise, it only took 10 years in the club but she finally has her name on the score sheet. The last 15 minutes saw Alex absorb more pressure at the back. The mids and forwards worked back and defended like troopers, Carmel and Sarah are well and truly back from injury and showed some silky skills to run down the clock when they got the chance and Amy G put in some wicked tackles in her cameo appearance.

 At last, the umpire blew the final whistle. Experience overcomes youth. Everyone on the team put in an awesome performance today. Maybe staying in on a Friday night does make a difference after all (cheers recession). I think it’s safe to say post match drinks in the Well were well deserved on this occasion. Roll on the second half of the season!!

PS. Did I mention I scored  ;)

(Report by the one and only Carol Fitzroy)

6ths drew with Railway 1-1 (Deb)
The 6ths came out on fighting form at the very start against an unsuspecting R. Union. The 6ths dominated the first half with great form and team work. Alex capitalised on R. Union’s confusion with Deb scoring a magical goal in the first half. Mid-way through the half R.Union had a surge of attack and managed to get the equaliser. Alex had a few breaks in R. Union’s circle where Las threatened their goal a few times but was unluckily denied. The team took to the pitch in the 2^nd half re-invigorated by the support of Lara, Rachel and Vicky, who were a menace to Union’s defence line. In the last few minutes, Railway managed to make a few breaks in the Alex circle, but Cathy’s superb goal keeping ensured we would not concede another goal.

Sunday 22nd was a busy day at Old Alex HC.  We hosted Corinthians HC for a combined 5th and 6th blitz which all the girls seemed to enjoy and everyone played really well.

In our Senior Colt groups we hosted Bray HC where our U14A team won 3 - 0.  Our U14B team played Railway Union at home and won 1 - 0.  Our U16A team had an amazing 7 - 0 win against Pembroke Wanderers at home.  Unfortunately our U16B team lost  0 - 1 to Railway Union.

U16A V Pembroke Wanderers 7 - 0

U16B V Railway Union  0- 1

U14A V Bray HC  3 - 0

U14B V Railyway Union 1 - 0

Sunday 29th of January our U16A team play Pembroke Wanderers in the league.  All U14 and remaining U16 will train from 2pm to 4pm.  Training time as normal for other junior colts groups.

1sts knocked out of Indoor
Alex were knocked out by eventual National Indoor Champions, Ards in the final game on Saturday in Loughlinstown. Earlier that day they came back from a 2-0 deficit against Hermes to draw 2-2. A win over Galway meant that a draw or a win against Ards would send them through to Sunday's finals. An early goal for Alex was disallowed and shortly before the half time hooter, Ards took a 1-0 lead. Into the second half Alex came out fighting but couldn't get past a tight Ards defence. Babs was taken off for the final few minutes for a last push for goals but to no avail. It was also a first taster Irish hockey for our latest member, Catriona Bailey Price, all the way from Australia. The season regular is back in action this weekend against Railway.

1sts beat 2nds 5-0 Jacqui Potter Cup (Roisin, Emily, Nicky, Becs, Shirley)
It was a blur of red, white and a dash of yellow on a chilly Thursday night in Milltown. With both teams short a few players, Nicky and Millie played on the 1sts and Joyce, Karen and Elaine played 2nds. Most of the chances were with the 1sts in the opening half and Babs made them work hard for their first goal that came from Roisin. The 2nds fought back and much of the half was contested in midfield. Emily Beatty managed to but the 1sts 2 up, however, into the second half it was the 2nds with all the pressure. Pam was on form and managed to keep out the 2nds chances. Nicky, with extra inside knowledge of the 2nds game play, got the third. The pressure was non-stop till the end, and although the 2nds fought all the way, it was not enough to keep out Becs and Shirley towards the final whistle. Overall it was a good performance by both teams, the score not reflecting the match as a whole. The 1sts meet Corinthians away at the end of January in the next round of the cup.

3rds beat Trinity 3-1 (Libby, Fiona, Rachel)
Alex 3rds were without a doubt the underdogs facing Trinity 2nds in quarter final of the cup, as Trinity are currently sitting mid-table in the division above Alex. With some tactical and positional changes made by Carl, Alex started the game superbly turning over possession of the ball in mid field. Lydia Tierney created several attacking opportunities and Alex netted the opening goal of the game - a deflection coming from a perfectly timed run by Fiona Walshe.  A set piece practiced on the training ground. Trinity later scored an equalising goal, coming from several defensive errors in the Alex circle. But Alex were determined to end the first half ahead, a free taken quickly by Rachel Gray at right back found Lydia at the top of the circle. Lydia's initial shot tested the Trinity goal keeper but the quick reactions by Libby Simmington put her name on the score board.
Trinity retained the majority of possession in the second half, however failing to convert this into goal scoring opportunities as a result of solid defending by Emma Mee Hayes (Man of the Match). Yvonne Veale placed huge pressure on the college defense, causing a quick turn over of possession. Despite several crucial saves by the Trinity keeper, a rebound ball found Rachel Gray unmarked in the circle and with a reverse stick shot she put the ball top left corner - her debut goal for the Club. Trinity won a series of short corners and after a controversial umpiring decision denying the students a penalty stroke, they increased the tempo of the game in search of a goal. Solid defending by all eleven Alex players resulted in a 3-1 victory.
Alex now face Suttonians in the semi final of the division 3/4 cup. 
Joyce