Landmark season for Kinsale hockey, despite lack of training pitch

The club is currently working to secure the building of a dedicated hockey pitch to train on and play matches in Kinsale.

Kinsale U18s, Munster league and cup winners. Photograph: Jane Connaughton

For Kinsale Hockey Club, the 2025/2026 season proved the best in the club's young life, with its girls U18 side claiming the Munster Division 2 league and club double, despite not having a home training pitch.

The club, only founded in 2012, uses the Sáile Sports & Community Centre in Kinsale to train its teams, even though the surface and pitch dimensions aren't suitable for hockey. 

It is currently working to secure the building of a dedicated hockey pitch to train on and play matches in Kinsale.

But concerns about the future were put aside in recent weeks when the U18s secured a famous victory over Limerick Hockey Club in the U18 Girls Munster Hockey Cup Final Division 2, in an exciting final played in Garryduff.

Cheered on by a large Kinsale crowd in perfect conditions, the opening goal came when Millie O’Dowd and Zoe Murphy worked the ball down the right sideline, leading to a fine shot from Alice Connaughton that was saved by the Limerick goalkeeper. Tessa Camilleri reacted quickest, slapping the rebound high into the net. 

A spirited Limerick side levelled before the end of the first quarter, but Kinsale regained the lead before half-time through an excellent individual effort from Charlotte Collins, who blocked down a high ball, skilfully carried it on her stick, and calmly rounded the goalkeeper to score.

Early in the third, Kinsale extended their advantage. Cora Hennessy Buttimer took a quick free outside the circle and slipped the ball to captain Lucy Foster, who made no mistake. The fourth goal followed from a well-worked short corner, where Eliana Hosford’s initial shot was saved, but Millie O’Dowd reacted sharply to finish.

Kinsale wrapped it up in the closing stages, when Emily Bertoletti set up Clodagh Kelly, who powered her shot from the edge of the circle into the net.

The Kinsale defence were in defiant form throughout, with Lara McGinn, Kate Stembridge, Sophie O’Brien, Dalia Kemp, Chantelle Hennessy Buttimer, and goalkeeper Izzey Colbert all playing key roles.

Amid jubilant scenes at the final whistle, the Kinsale players, coach Rob Jenkins, chairperson Antoinette Cooney and loyal supporters celebrated a historic first Munster Cup win, following previous final disappointments.

It crowned a special season for the U18s, who became league champions, having won 16 out of the 18 league matches.

"It's great credit to the spirit of the girls," said club spokesperson Jane Connaughton. "Despite the training hindrance, the team have prevailed remarkably due to grit and determination.

"Now the efforts continue by a very hard-working committee to secure our own facilities in Kinsale." 

The founding chairperson of Kinsale Hockey Club was Kieran Harte, father of Ireland international twins Conor and David. 

The club now accommodates more than 160 girls and boys, and has a waiting list for more, with many introduced to the sport in the annual schools blitz which the club runs for local primary schools each May.

The club also celebated an international cap for former player Anish Nugent this year. Nugent, who started his hockey life with Kinsale, aged 7, captained the Ireland U16s in a series with England in February.

Anish first sampled hockey on the tarmac in third class in St Multose N.S alongside four of the double-winning girls - classmates Alice Connaughton, Zoë Murphy, Chantelle and Cora Hennessy Buttimer.

Those first seeds sown continue to be harvested.