The ladies 2nds had an agonizing end of season loss on Sunday as they bowed out of the cup on penalty flicks. Despite having most of the possession and the best chances, the game finished at 0-0 after both normal and extra time. The game had been feisty with 3 cards. The chance of the game fell to Steph Lyons as she swept just wide with 20 minutes to go.
Despite saving the first stroke, the girls were undone as Navans keeper kept out the final Rovers flick to send them through to the final 4-3 winners.
Well done to the girls and their team of Lisa and Macolm who came together brilliantly despite a rough start to the season. Hopefully the team will build from their progress and come back fighting next year.

The ladies 3s and 4s also finished their seasons last weekend, losing to Botanic and table toppers Bray respectively. With young squads, particularly the 4ths, we hope to once again help the girls build from what they’ve learned this year and bring it to next season. Many thanks to the two coaches Steven Roberts, and Stephen Roberts, or as Siobhan would say, Ebony and Ivory, for all their commitment and enthusiasm for the season.

All is not yet over for the ladies 1sts however as their final league game takes place this Wednesday at 8.30pm at home to UCD. This is a vital game for the girls to win in order to avoid a relegation place. Please come and support them and act as their 12th man in this crucial tie!

On the mens side a 3-1 loss to Garvey last Saturday means that this weeks final IHL league tie against Pembroke takes on huge significance. Out of the 6 teams in the group 4 can still potentially still progress to the finals the week after. Its likely to be a case of winner takes all in terms of a semi spot so once again support at this game is key. The game kicks off in Pembroke at 1pm on Saturday.

Although results didn’t go their way the u14 boys enjoyed their trip to Banbridge and Garvey last Saturday. They started their day with a 6-4 loss to Banbridge before continuing on to support the lads. Unfortunately we could not field a girls team to travel with them although we hope to do this next year.

The only other game last week was the mens 3rds who fell to a 1-0 loss to Avoca. They currently sit 2nd in their league with 3 other teams on the same points and just one game to go making theirs a very tight end to the season!

We hope everyone has their glad rags ready to go for this years annual club dinner!

Tickets have sold well and we are looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday night. Dinner will be served at 8pm.

As part of the evening we are presenting 3 awards: mens and ladies players of the year, and volunteer of the year. If you want a say in who should receive these prizes please vote using the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YP6JGBJ

As we want to ensure as many people as possible get to celebrate what has been a great season of hockey, we are offering 30 afters tickets at €20 each for anyone who is attending the rugby etc and doesn’t want to miss out! These are valid from 10pm on the night and can be gotten by contacting Siobhan, Stephen or Ali at ladies.captain@threerockrovershc.com, mens.captain@threerockrovershc.com or alisonfkeogh@gmail.com

Please don’t forget the PGM and AGM taking place next Wednesday the 2nd of April. Below are the agendas. We will be sending the minutes from last years meetings later this week.

Members are hereby notified that the Annual General Meeting
of Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club will be held on
Wednesday 2nd April 2014 at 7.30pm in the Clubhouse.

AGENDA
1. Agree minutes of the last Meeting.
2. Honorary Secretary’s Report.
3. Honorary Treasurer’s Report and Annual Accounts.
4. Accounts of the Joint Executive Committee.
5. Report of the Honorary Auditor.
6. Report of the Chairman of the Council
7. Election of
a) Officers, Council and Committee
b) Honorary Secretary (Records)
c) Honorary Auditor
8. Motions.
9. Any other business.

Any matters to be raised at this meeting should be put in writing to the Honorary Secretary before March 26th 2014. These may be posted to the club or emailed to secretary@threerockrovershc.com

Barbara Snow
Honorary Secretary TRRHC

Motions:
1. The council and committee propose the use of a significant portion of the sinking fund (in excess of €45,000) to go towards the replacement of the front pitch, and the upgrading of the front pitch watering system, commencing May 2014.

2. The council and committee wish to bring to the notice of the members that, due to the refurbishment of the clubhouse to be commencing shortly, the obligation to lodge the annual required amount to the ‘Sinking Fund’ may not be fulfilled.

3. Subscriptions will remain as follows for the upcoming season, with the exception of the Junior Membership.

• Full Membership
If paid full or in part by 1st October 2014 – €375
If after 1st October 2014 – €420
• Student Membership
If paid in full or in part by 1st October 2014 – €210
If paid after 1st October 2014 – €210
• Junior Membership
€150 for the season u18-u14
€130 for season u8-u12
• Vets Membership
If paid full or in part by 1st October 2014 – €135 (women) €250 (men)
If after 1st October 2014 – €135 (women) €250 (men)
• Pavillion Membership
€50 for the season.

The Members of Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club are hereby notified that
THE PLAYERS’ GENERAL MEETING
will be held in the Clubhouse on Wednesday 2nd April 2014 commencing at 7.00pm.

AGENDA

1. Agree minutes of the last Players’ General Meeting.
2. Reports from team captains on the results of the season.
3. Appointment of team captains for the coming season.
4. Report on youth hockey.
5. Any other business.

Any matters to be raised at the meeting should be put in writing to the Honorary Secretary before March 26th 2014. These may be posted to the club or emailed to secretary@threerockrovershc.com

Barbara Snow
Honorary Secretary TRRHC

As the season finishes up for another year, those on committee are already planning for next season!! In order to help Siobhan and Mandy as she steps in as ladies captain plan for next year please take the time to fill out the following questionnaire. Your views are important and will be taken into account as plans are made in the coming weeks.
Please fill this out this week if possible

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z7TT6SM

The big game of the weekend is another cup semi final and this time the ladies 2s will hope to progress! They face Navan at home on the front pitch on Sunday at 3.30pm.

In a weekend of final league games for most of our teams the 2s also play on Saturday at 12.30 against Clontarf, the 3s travel to Botanic at 1pm while the 4ths face Bray at 4pm at home.

The ladies 1sts final league game is at home to UCD on Wednesday the 26th of March at 8.30pm.

On the mens side the 1sts have a tough game as they travel away to Garvey on Saturday for a 3.45 start (details on a supporters bus elsewhere in the newsletter!)

Having defeated Cookstown 4-3 in a tense affair last weekend it means the men go into the game top of the group. Garvey and Pembroke are the two closest competitors for spots in the finals weekend and with both teams representing the last group matches it promises to be a tough affair!

The mens 3s and 4s also have important games in their battles for promotion playing Avoca and St.Brendans respectively. No time has been confirmed for these as of yet.

Numbers are coming in thick and fast for the club dinner as we begin to finalise the seating arrangements !!

The date is the 29th of March in the Stillorgan Park Hotel. The dress code is formal and dinner will be served at 8pm. A band will play for the evening followed by a DJ to finish so plenty of entertainment for all!

If you haven’t confirmed whether you are attending please contact Ali at alisonfkeogh@gmail.com as soon as you can. Only 1 week left!

This week sees the penultimate mens 1sts IHL game in Lisnagarvey. The u14 boys are due to play matches in Banbridge in some friendly games that day before watching the match.
As part of this trip we have ordered a bus and have a few spots remaining for any parents or supporters that wish to travel.
The bus leaves Rovers at 9.30am, and costs €10 per person. The trip will involve a 2 hour stop in the Banbridge Outlet before bringing you to the game.
There are about 20 places if anyone wishes to claim them. Please contact Siobhan at 0879066379 by Thursday at the latest.

The rub of the green fell to our mens 1sts and 2nds this weekend as they both recorded wins in their Leinster Cup finals!!

The mens 2nds took on Fingal on Sunday in the Railway Cup final. It was a case of youth versus experience as our side took on some of the older heads in Fingal. Experience initially looked to win out as Fingal took the lead from a corner. Rovers responded well with a corner themselves to bring the game to 1-1 at half time. After going 3-1 down with ten minutes remaining however all looked lost. The lads put Fingal under relentless pressure for the remainder of the game however, winning a few corners and shooting wide on numerous occasions. They defied the odds however and came back to equalize in the last two minutes!
Extra time ended in deadlock, as did the first round of strokes. After the first round of sudden death though Stephen Dawson proved to be the match winner as he saved Fingals 7th effort, ensuring victory!

The 1sts had an easier run in their Mills Cup Final on Patricks Day as they overcame UCD 4-2. Two early Peter Blakeney goals, one a slick team effort, had the lads 2-0 up before UCD pounced on defensive uncertainty to bring it to 2-1 at half time. JB and Joe killed off the tie in the next 15 minutes with an open play goal and a stroke to bring it to 4-1 before UCD got a consolation 2nd close to the end.

It marks the 2nd piece of silverware for the lads in what has been a fruitful season so far, and ensures the cup returns to Rovers after a 17 year absence. The win also handed Peter McConnell the final medal needed for his collection!
Pics courtesy of sports file and Adrian Bohem can be seen below, as can video goal highlights from Taz
http://www.sportsfile.com/id/845347/
http://irishhockeyphotographers.zenfolio.com/p72696936
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDXwSJiduiY&feature=youtu.be

Earlier in the day the stars of the future were undone by Monkstown 4-3 in the u16 Cup final. They started well courtesy of Daragh Walsh and appeared to boss most of the possession before Monkstown woke up and began attacking with intensity. They got 4 quick goals and looked to be cruising before our lads began their comeback. Scoring 2 in the last 10 minutes made for a tense finish but time was not on their side as they finished 4-3.

This weekend sees plenty of hockey action despite the bank holiday!

On Saturday the men play their 3rd IHL game as they welcome Cookstown at 3pm. At 1.30pm we will be hosting another of our supporters lunches. Rachel is providing a 2 course lunch of chicken in parma ham with all the trimmings followed by banoffee for €15. If you wish to attend please contact Ali at alisonfkeogh@gmail.com or John as john.findyoulater@gmail.com before Thursday.

In what is always a big day in the club this years St.Patricks Day finals have plenty of Rovers involvement as both our mens 1sts and our u16 boys play for silverware.

They take part in two out of five finals being hosted in the club on behalf of the Leinster Hockey Association.The schedule is as follows:

10am: u16 girls Jacqui Potter final Avoca v Corinthians
12pm: u16 boys Benny Atkinson final TRR v TBC
2pm : Senior women Jacqui Potter final Trinity v Railway
4pm: Senior men Mills final TRR v TBC

Back pitch: u16 girls trophy

The boys will play either Railway or Monsktown, while the men face either Corinthians or UCD.

Rachel will on hand all day serving up her usual tasty treats and the bar will be open. Be sure to come up and support both our teams!!!

Last Sunday saw 20 of our u16 girls being warmly welcomed to the senior side of the club as they were treated to plenty of food and fun and games by our senior girls and coaches.

In a round of mini games Grace and her team were eventual winners in what was a competitive afternoon, with reports of a South African International taking no prisoners!

The afternoon was a small step in making the move from juniors to seniors run more smoothly, as this is an area our player representative group have highlighted as needing development. We were delighted with the turnout and hope it was enjoyed by all!

We look forward to seeing them all at pre-season in August!!

Some pics of the afternoon are now up in our photo section