Louise continues life in the fast lane
MOSSLEY captain Louise Creighton admits she is surprised to be competing in a Denman Ulster Shield semi-final having believed she was stepping down from top-flight hockey when she joined the club.
A previous winner of the trophy when with Randalstown, Creighton leads her team into action against holders Lurgan in Sunday’s game at Stormont.
Mossley have been going well in their first season in the Ulster Premier League, although their captain believes her side will be underdogs when they face the current league champions.
“Apart from myself, this is new territory for the girls, so we’ve told them to enjoy the occasion and use it as another mechanism to get better,” said Creighton.
“It’s a little bit surreal as far as my own career is concerned because, four seasons ago, I came back to my home club to wind down and now I’m back to the league I left.
“To play against the likes of Randalstown in the league is a bittersweet game because they were a massive part of my career, but Mossley is my home.”
In the first semi-final on Sunday, Banbridge will also be in previously uncharted territory when they tackle an in-form Queen’s side, who lost 3-1 to Lurgan in last year’s final.
In a busy weekend, there is also an EY Irish Hockey League double-header with leaders Pegasus playing twice in Dublin.
First up it’s champions UCD, followed by a game with Pembroke Wanderers 24 hours later.
Belfast Harlequins will be hoping to build on Sunday’s win over Ards when they take on Railway on Saturday before hosting their Cork namesakes 24 hours later.
Ards will hope to bounce back from that loss at Deramore when they entertain newly-promoted Trinity and then travel to Dublin to face struggling Monkstown.
There’s a Premier League game tonight as Banbridge entertain Lurgan in their final run out before their respective Shield semis.
Meanwhile, Ireland captain Katie Mullan was named international player of the year at the Causeway Council annual Sports Awards bash at the weekend.
The former Ballymoney player, now with UCD, was handed the accolade after helping the national team qualify for next year’s World Cup finals.