Belfast Telegraph Local Heroes Supplement
07/03/2007 Hockey : Penney drops in to keep swooping Owls at bay
21/02/2007 Hockey : Lightbody and Young boost for Instonians
14/02/2007 Hockey : Priceless penney shines
07/02/2007 Hockey : McDonald's double inspires Instonians
31/01/2007 Hockey: Singer at Instonians has the X-Factor
13/12/2006 Ladies hockey : Inst taste defeat for the first time
07/12/2006 Inst enjoy home comfort
Lurgan Mail
[Published: Wednesday 7, March 2007 - 13:32]
Look after the Penney's and you'll save... goals!
That was the case for Instonians II last weekend as replacement keeper Nikki Penney stepped in to help the Shawsbridge side back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Owls.
This was the biggest win the team have had a quite some time and Penney played an important role with her impressive clean sheet performance.
Inst started the game like they have so many this season, by applying pressure from the whistle and apart from a few sporadic breaks from Owls, they remained in control for most of the match.
After several penalty corners and free hits around the circle Claire Young eventually broke the deadlock before the break to leave Inst 1-0 up.
The second half saw Inst slip backwards which allowed Owls to get back into the game.
They almost paid the price for it but once again Inst put their foot down to regain control and it was after a few more short corners that they got number two.
Judith Campbell pushed a set piece out to Judith Banner, who hit it towards Chloe Jackson and she put it back across goal for Campbell to sweep into an open net.
Instonains firsts weren't so lucky in their home match against top opponents Victorians. A combination of a mist ridden pitch making vision very difficult and a depleted squad resulted in a very hard fought, fast moving match.
Victorians scored within the opening few minutes breaking through an Inst defence who had rarely played together.
Inst stepped it up in the second half and it paid off when they scored the equaliser after numerous rebounds from the Vics keeper.
Towards the end of the match, Victorians were awarded a penalty corner and from a lovely strike and deflection from an attacker sitting on the post they made it 2-1 to finish.
A special mention must go to the newly appointed player/coach Maxine Johnston.
She was supportive and encouraging during the match, especially to those second XI players helping out.
Her new position will hopefully bring a new energy to the team and allow them to finish the season on a high.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2336253.ece
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[Published: Wednesday 21, February 2007 - 09:57]
Instonians seconds gladly welcomed back the influential pairing of Claire Young and Gayle Lightbody on Saturday for their hard fought 0-0 draw with Lisnagarvey.
Both players had been out for several weeks and after the team's previous defeat Inst were happy to see them back in action.
The first half seemed to start at 100mph, with Inst taking the game right to
Garvey.
Inst had their chances to take the lead in the early stages, the best of which came at a short corner but the resulting shot hit the post.
In the second half Inst took their foot off the pedal and for some reason were unable to find the fire and passion from the first half.
Garvey were the more dominate side after the break, but at times Inst showed glimpses of magic on the wings with some sweet moves in getting the ball to Irene Gilmore and Claire Young up front.
Garvey pushed and pushed, and on a number of occasions Inst goalkeeper Krysta was forced to making some fine saves which earned her side a point.
Meanwhile Instonians firsts were back on form on Saturday producing the results they are used to.
After a poor spell the girls are hoping their comfortable 6-1 win over Larne will boost their confidence and get them back to winning ways for the remainder of the season.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2290621.ece
© Belfast Telegraph
[Published: Wednesday 14, February 2007 - 13:27]
Nicky Penney was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday as she stood between the posts for Instonians in their crucial Intermediate One league clash with Dungannon.
Penney stood in for their missing first choice keeper against the team who had defeated UUJ the previous week - one of Instonians' main rivals in this year's title race.
Inst nearly took the lead within the first three minutes but it wasn't until near the break that they went in front through a well worked goal from Sandra Jackson.
After the interval Dungannon pulled one back from an excellent penalty corner routine and this is how it remained four minutes from time.
Inst were awarded a penalty corner from which their initial shot was stopped by the keeper but Mandy McDonald eventually scored after a goal mouth scramble to clinch Inst the three points.
Meanwhile Instonians seconds weren't so lucky last weekend as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat to Dromore.
Inst were under pressure from the start and picked up two injuries in the first half.
Chloe Jackson was struck on the face by the ball and defender Lynsey Catherwood was forved to come off as she was hit on the hand as she raced out at a penalty corner just before the break.
Inst fought well to keep Dromore at bay and successfully got to half time with no score on the board.
Jackson came back on after the break but Dromore stepped their game up and with speedy attacking and well practiced penalty corners they took control.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2269482.ece
© Belfast Telegraph
[Published: Wednesday 7, February 2007 - 11:00]
Instonians got back on track with their first win of the New Year last Saturday as they stormed 3-0 past Queen's.
Inst were undefeated before the second half of the season got under way, but after losing their two January games they knew they had to turn things around.
And that's just what they did last weekend, despite getting off to a shaky start.
Gradually Instonians began to gain the upperhand and pressed Queen's into their own half, however, excellent defending by Inst kept them in the game.
In the other circle, Queen's looked dangerous at times, but Instonians' defence also held out.
Instonians looked certain to score and they did just that when, midway through the first half, Sandra Jackson found a way past the Queen's keeper with a superb piledriver.
The second-half was mostly one way traffic from Instonians, but again some excellent defending by Queen's kept them in the game.
Eventually all the pressure paid off for Inst, however, as Mandy McDonald deflected a shot just inside the post in the 55th minute to extend their lead. McDonald added her second and her team's third late on from another deflection.
Queen's managed a breakaway attack into the Inst circle, but it was well cleared by Inst keeper Claire Markey.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2245911.ece
© Belfast Telegraph
[Published: Wednesday 31, January 2007 - 08:36]
Instonians second XI have been given a new lease of life thanks to their new coach Marty Singer.
Since Singer took the young team under his wing they have went from losing almost every week to picking up points.
Seconds player Lynsey Catherwood explains: "Normally the focus on our club is with the firsts but we have improved so much since Marty has taken over.
"We were losing all the time and now we are winning and drawing games but most importantly we are playing well.
"Marty has taught us to play more as a team now and we are very grateful to him for all his hard work with us."
Last weekend's 0-0 draw with Civil Service was a case of two points lost and not a point gained according to Instonians as 70% of the match was played in the Civil Service half of the pitch.
Instonians demonstrated that they are without doubt adjusting well to their new surface at Shawsbridge and their teamwork shone through.
Inst almost took the lead straight away as they got on top of Service but there were also chances at the other end.
Civil Service tried to sneak a goal, but thanks to some good defending from Barbara Oliver, Lauren McCloud, Ann Duckett and Lynsey Catherwood nothing came out of it.
Inst then created several more chances in the first half, the best falling to Chloe Jackson but her shot was stopped by a defender.
The second half was just like the first with Inst controlling the game but despite changing their formation they were unable to find the back of the net.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2201370.ece
© Belfast Telegraph
[Published: Wednesday 13, December 2006 - 11:50]
Round up: Inst Ladies first XI said goodbye to their undefeated record this season last weekend.
On Saturday, they lost 2-1 to UUJ seconds after a hard match.
UUJ had the advantage at half time as they converted a penalty corner just before the break and they made it 2-0 soon after the re-start.
Inst fought hard to take control and won a penalty corner with Mandy McDonald pushing out to Sandra Jackson who thumped it past the keeper.
Inst seconds found themselves in much the same position as last week, fighting hard but having to make do with a scoreless draw against Greenisland.
lInst training times have changed so for all club details and further match reports log on to www.instoniansladieshockey.co.uk
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2070538.ece
© Belfast Telegraph
[Published: Thursday 7, December 2006 - 14:58]
Instonians Ladies officially moved into their new home venue at Shaws Bridge last week.
They have set up home there after being quite nomadic for many years and are hoping it's the start of great growth and development for the club.
Instonians have fallen in love with the brand new water-based pitch already and Club Secretary Lynsey Catherwood is encouraging new members to come along and try it out.
She explains: "Instonians are quite a small club.
"They have no natural school to feed them with new players and many people probably don't even know Instonians have a ladies team!
"Well we hope to change that now.
"With a top of the range new home pitch and a superb club house we hope to attract new players and increase our performance.
"Our 1st XI are at the top of Intermediate One and these new facilities can only enhance their performance and skill.
"We are also lucky to have some really excellent schoolgirls and we really aim to nuture their talent and hope they will become fantastic players for the club.
"It is a long term goal that the club will set up a junior section but we are still working on this project.
"The only way is up for Instonians!"
If you are interested in playing for Instonians, they welcome all abilities so head along to Shaws Bridge on Tuesday nights (8-9.30pm).
Meanwhile on Saturday Instonians 1st XI kept their position at the top of the table secure by defeating Malone 3-1.
Instoninans immediately put Malone under pressure - they got to the ball much quicker and were more alert overall.
This early pressure led to a few chances and a quick penalty corner, which Stacey McDougal pushed out to Wendy Horgan who controlled the ball and struck the first goal with a tremendous shot.
The pressure continued and Horgan scored again - this time from a flick from five yards out - to leave Inst 2-0 up after five minutes.
Instonians began to relax which left Malone the opportunity of pulling a goal back - and that's just what they did. But Inst weren't finished yet and it didn't take long for Claire Henderson to put the game out of Malone's reach when she made it 3-1.
Instonians seconds weren't so lucky on Saturday as they fell 1-0 to Owls after a tightly fought match. The match started with Owls putting pressure on Instonians straight away and before the visitors had settled into the game Owls had scored after slotting the ball through the keeper's legs. This woke Instonians up and from there on in they fought incrediably hard putting a lot of pressure on Owls with some brilliant work from school girls Chloe Jackson, and Emily and Shirely McCleary, however they were unable to find the equaliser.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/local-heroes/article2055324.ece
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