A PLACE in the women’s Premier League Hockey grand final is on the line when St Pat’s face Lithgow Panthers this Saturday, but Saints coach Chris Conroy says his players are not feeling the pressure.
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Having finished the regular season in second place then beating Orange Ex-Services 1-0 in the major preliminary semi-final, the Saints earned a sport in the first grand final qualifier.
Courtesy of finishing as minor premiers, Lithgow Panthers sat out last Saturday and will host this weekend’s major semi-final.
The winner of that match will secure a home grand final while the loser faces elimination, but the Saints players are approaching the contest with a focused and relaxed demeanour
“As always they have just gone about their business, they trained very well on Tuesday. Jimmy Muldooon gave them a fair run and fitness doesn’t seem to be an issue at all,” Conroy said.
“I don’t think the girls feel pressure – well they don’t show it anyway – and that’s a good thing. They are enjoying it, they are talking and laughing and giggling and are looking forward to it.”
As the defending premiers, Panthers are yet to drop a game in 2016 and already boast a pair of wins over St Pat’s.
The first of those was an 11-2 domination, but the Saints did better in the most recent meeting when going down 4-1.
Conroy knows his side is the underdog, but he also knows they will throw everything possible at Panthers.
“You’d be crazy not to say they are favourites, but we are good to go. We just have to turn up on the day and get the job done, because anything can happen on the day,” the coach said.
“The pressure is on them, so we have just got to get out there and switch on and have a good hit up and play as well as we can.
“It’s a big ask isn’t it? But if they are patient, don’t rush into the transfers and that sort of thing – that’s what Lithgow do, transfer the ball quickly and overhead the ball lovely too – then we should do okay.”
Maintaining structure and tight marking will be key for the Saints and Conroy knows his players must be switched on from the opening whistle.
“They are so good all over the field, they are a bloody good outfit,” he said.
“You can’t afford to give them an inch, if you do then you are in trouble. They will capitalise on it if you give them a chance – that’s what they did to us that game in Lithgow, they put four or five on us before we even blinked.
“We are going to have to be very tight with our marking all over the field.”
Though facing a challenge, Conroy said goalkeeper Tracey Gunning is in excellent form and will inspire her team-mates.
The major semi-final will begin at 1.30pm.