Alexandra do it again

Old Alexandra survived a plucky challenge from Loreto II at Grange Road yesterday to win their second successive Leinster Senior Cup. The Senior A leaders beat their second division opponents 3-1 to remain on course for a league and cup double this season.

When Tracey Skoyles rounded off an early spell of intense Alexandra pressure with a typically thunderous strike from a penalty corner on 10 minutes the result never seemed in doubt.

Loreto II, though, produced a stirring fightback in the closing stages of the first half and, following a corner, midfielder Orla Smith levelled the match in the 23rd minute. Just four minutes later Jenny King denied Loreto II the lead with a superb save with her stick from Byrne after she broke through on the right of the circle.

Whatever Alexandra coach David Judge said to his players at half time appeared to have the desired effect because they began the second half much as they had started the first, regaining control of the game. Substitute Richelle Flanagan adding some much needed zip to their attack.

They stepped up the pressure, winning four corners in quick succession, but a combination of saves from Mary Harkin and blocks from Smith and Bronwyn O'Donnell kept the score at 1-1.

It took a little bit of magic from Trish Conway in the 56th minute to finally give Alexandra their second goal. Susan Keogh picked out the forward at the edge of the circle from a free and after wrong-footing the Loreto II defence she drilled the ball low to Harkin's left.

Apart from a brilliant interchange between captain Suzanne Elliot and Byrne, which led to Loreto II's fourth and final corner of the game, Alexandra's lead was rarely threatened again and another ferocious corner strike from Skoyles 10 minutes from time made it 3-1.

OLD ALEXANDRA: J King, T Conway, F Sweeney, H Agar, L Campbell, Z Dahl, S Keogh (capt), T Skoyles, C Metchette, J Perrin, O Bell. Subs: R Flanagan, L Ryan.

LORETO II: M Harkin, S Elliot (capt), C Fanagan, O Smith, W Byrne, L Jenkinson, G O'Donoghue, B O'Donnell, P Marshall, C A Byrne, G Dawson. Subs: J McNamara, M Barnwell.

Umpires: C Kelly and K Eppel.