Early retirement? – not for this crew!

The Irish Women’s Masters (over 40s) played their first tournament last weekend, taking part in the Masters Home Countries International Hockey Championships in Swansea, Wales.
Pembroke Wanderers were well represented – and why not – having taken the Leinster Vets league in style a couple of months back! Alison Pigot rounded up an excellent squad in preparation and after some good sessions (training or otherwise) the squad headed over to sunny Wales.

The weekend was always going to be difficult with this new Irish team facing settled and experienced Scottish and English teams in particular. As the English, Welsh and Scottish teams were also fielding Over 45s teams their Over 40s teams comprised players aged 40-44, so the Irish team (fielding players across the 40s decade +) felt the early pace.

Pembroke players included Alison Pigot, Edwina Mulcahy, Bernie Barry, Sinead Guilfoyle and Aisling Schutte. All performed fantastically well in very warm conditions, and wore the Irish shirt with pride! Sinead Guilfoyle – standout performer in the Ladies section last season was joint Irish player of the tournament, no surprise to those who have played with her in the past, while Aish (she) Schutte(‘s she scores) terrorised defences in only ways that she can. As for Alison, she scored a memorable goal against England and we know we’ll never hear the end of it Well done to you all for representing Ireland, a great achievement.

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The Irish Women’s Masters are looking for players – so if you’re over 40, still playing hockey and would like to get involved go to www.irelandmasters.com

Ireland Ladies Masters (over 40s): Sinead Guilfoyle (GK – Pembroke), Margie Loughran (GK – Navan), Maura O’Neill (Three Rock), Bromwyn O’Donnell (Loreto), Helen Johnston (Railway), Paula Jenkins (Three Rock), Alison Pigot (Captain – Pembroke), Clare Ryan (Navan), Nikkey Cullen (Avoca), Edwina Mulcahy (Pembroke), Aishling Schutte (Pembroke), Mairead Lyons (Three Rock), Bernie Barry (Pembroke).