ARDS Ladies have returned to the top table of Irish hockey after they secured promotion to EY1 with a narrow victory over Cork Harlequins on Sunday.
The Oranges were relegated from top division two years, dropping down to EY2, but such is their fight and spirit, that they bounced back, achieving a top two finish at the first time of asking.
They approached the final game of the season, knowing a full three points would be vital in their quest for promotion, and they may have hoped for a less tense affair, facing a Cork Harlequins side which laboured towards the bottom of the table.
Whether it was the chance to stop another side from achieving its ambitions, or simply the spectacle of the big occasion, the Harlequins rose to the challenge, pushing Ards all the way.
There was nothing to separate the sides at the mid-way point, with the deadlock still to be broken, but Ards regrouped at the break and made their quality show after the restart.
The decisive play arrived in the third quarter, coming from an unlikely source, as defender Caroline Arnold bagged a rare goal and signed her name into the Ards Hockey history books.
From there, although the Cork net was not breached a second time, the ladies in orange dominated proceedings, forcing their opponents on to the back foot and marching to the pivotal points.
Despite the cagey nature of the match and the Harlequins’ players perhaps outperforming their usual standards, Ards captain Alana Doyle admits her team was always going to have the upper hand.
“It was a tight-fought victory, and we had to stick to the game plan, be patient and wear them down. It was a nervy first quarter, but thankfully we controlled the next three and Caroline got the goal,” she said
“We were full of confidence heading into the match, as we were towards the top of the table and Cork were near the bottom. They played well and made us fight for the victory, but our coach, Tamara, had us well prepped and we knew what we had to do.”
Promotion tastes sweet regardless of when it is achieved, but skipper Doyle was overjoyed with the immediate return to EY1.
“It means a lot to us because we were relegated last year. That was gutting for us and we all wanted to get back to top-level hockey. So, having achieved that now, there’s a lot of joy in it,” she stated.
The captain plays a crucial role in any successful side, offering leadership, consistent quality and guidance for their teammates, and Doyle was delighted to be the one that guided Ards back to Ireland’s premier competition.
“I was particularly pleased to lead the girls to promotion. It means that bit more because we narrowly missed out on survival in my first season as captain,” she added.
“To guide the team back to EY1 makes me incredibly proud, especially since we’re a great group of friends and we’re doing the club and each other proud.”
This latest achievement, in an exemplary season for the ladies, comes just a month after they clinched the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League title, and Doyle is not ruling out the possibility of kicking on next term.
“We want to consolidate our position and develop the younger players next season, while playing the best hockey possible.
“The main objective is to remain in the top division and anything above that is a bonus, but you could see us challenging for a playoff spot.”
