The Leader, Nollaig 1988

THEDEVELOPMENTOFHOCKEY 15 INLETTERKENNY PX4To4To4To4 Anyone for Hockey?was the heading in the Derry People and Done– gal News on 12th July 1980. This was the first introduction of ladies hoc– key to Letterkenny, so it is relatively a new sport to the town. A group of enthusiastic players, with the use of the all-weather pitch at the Loreto Convent Grounds, hailed the beginning of Letterkenny Ladies' Hockey club. On Sept. 26th 1980 the club fielded their first team in competitive hockey, captained by Joan Cowan, with John McGettigan as Coach and Club Umpire. The Letterkenny team's aim was to play in the Ulster Intermediate League, as most of the local clubs in the North-West were already playing there and travelling to away games would have meant less mileage. However, new rules stated that newly formed clubs entering the league must start off in the minor section and work their way up bymeans of promotion. So, the club started their uphill climb of the Ulster League, by travelling every other Saturday to Belfast to fulfill fixtures - in order to gain maximum points in the League. THE TEAM'S PROGRESS Following a very successful season, the club shared the Ulster Minor league with Banbridge (after a play-off) when they drew 1-1, on the 17th April 1980. The club was also triumphant in the Minor Cup that season, when they beat the Belfast side, Grosvenor 1-0. This was a unique distinction for Letterkenny, the first Donegal team to bring two Ulster hockey trophies across the border. This was a very fitting end to a season when they remained unbeaten in their sec– tion. The team was: May Boyle, Josephine Stewart, Bee McGettigan, Joan Cowan (Capt.), Cynthia Moore, Doreen Kee, Hazel Russell, Eli– zabeth Speer, Marion Speer, Mary Fealty, Pauline Crossan. Subs: Olive Robinson and Heather McKeenan. After their success in the 80/81 season, the club became known as "The Elks" - due to the generous sponsorship of Mr Stuart Scott of Elk Lei– surewear to the club. Mr Scott also gave generous sponsorship to the Irish Hockey team who went on tour to Ohio that season, to take part in a tournament there. The generosity of Letterkenny to the club was unbelievable. Travel was the club's greatest expense, so they organised several fund-raising functions, of which they shared the profits with many local charities. PROMOTION In their second season the Elks started off in the Ulster Junior sec– tion, to which they had been promoted, once again the opposition ex– tended as far away as Belfast. With the thought of the Intermediate Section only one season away, the Elks were determined to succeed. They had only two things to do - firstly, fulfill all their fixtures and second– ly -win all their matches. This is exactly what they did, because not only did they win the League outright this season, but they also won the Junior Cup - beating their old rivals, Grosvenor, on both occasions.This was yet another great achievement for letterkenny, with the Elks bringing another two Ulster Hockey trophies home (for the first time) to Donegal - and only in their DUNFANAGHY group pictured many years ago. second season. During this season the Elks hosted a coaching course for all the clubs in the North-West region, in which Mr. and Mrs. A. O'Neill travelled from Belfast to coach the players from all the different clubs. They were also hosts to an Ulster Intermediate Selection, over the Halloween weekend. The Elks also entered a team in the mixed 11-a– side Tournament in Galway, with five local men making up the team - they were: D. Cowan, B. Moore, S. Wallace, F. Stewart and E. Moore - in which they were successful and returned with the plate and the trophies. THANKS TO LOCALS The loyalty and support of the Letterkenny people shown towards the Elks helped immensely in their achievements, because on each oc– casion of a final, which had to be played in Belfast, the coach load of sup– porters which accompanied the team, gave great encouragement to them. ULSTER INTERMEDIATE SECTION k. their third season began, the Elks had achieved their objective - they were starting off in the Ulster Intermediate section. Most of their away games would now be played in Co. Derry or Co. Tyrone. They were now looking forward to enjoying their game of hockey more this season as the pressures of fighting to gain promotion could be forgotten. The Elks faced much stronger opposition in this section, as a much higher standard of hockey was being played. Unfortunately, no trophies were brought home to Letterkenny this season, but fourth posi– tion in the League was a satisfactory result for the club. Only 4 of the original members still play hockey with the club. The Intermediate team is still in the Intermediate league but are now at the top of the Section, being denied promotion last season by one point. The Club has formed a second team in the last three years and they continu– ously play in the Minor League. The Minor team have this season been beaten in the Cup and Plate competitions and have only League fixtures left to play. The Intermediate team have 10 points to date out of a possible 18. Training takes place weekly at the convent ground on Wednesdays 8.30 to 10.00 and matches at the Convent grounds on Saturdays. One team is nearly always playing at home. The Club have been greatly as– sisted bythe Rugby Club for two years by the use of their changing rooms after matches and the catering facilities there for entertaining visiting teams. The Club is financed mainly by fund raising and sponsorship and are eagerly looking forward to the newT-shirts and sweat-shirts which are promised from Donegal Co-op Creameries Ltd. - - ·- Open late on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 to 7 p.m.