Player Interviews
Arlene Boyles - Pegasus

IHL semi-finals have proven a stumbling block for Pegasus in the past two seasons. They were denied by Hermes 4-1 in a bizarre encounter in 2009, one in which their corner count approached double figures before Cork Harlequins pulled victory from the fire in 2010. But skipper Arlene Boyles believes her side will go into their battle with UCD with much more freedom, safe in the knowledge that one of their preseason goals has already been fulfilled.

It is a repeat of the Irish Senior Cup semi-final from just a fortnight ago, even being played at the exact same time, and Boyles says her side can relax that bit more this time round than their edgy 1-0 victory.

“They’ll have done their homework from the last game and we have as well. We’ve learned a few things and will hopefully put them right on Saturday morning.

“I think the manner in which both sides approached the game was quite nervous. With the Irish Senior Cup in our ‘make believe’ trophy cabinet the pressure is almost off us because our aim was certainly European hockey for 2012 and we’ve got that now.
“That pressure is off us and is on the likes of UCD, Hermes and Railway. So we’re looking forward to the game more than we were last time round.”

It was a coming of age for the Ulster women with eight of their number who were contesting their first national final, a strangely high quotient when one considers the club’s pedigree. Boyles – along with Claire McMahon – has eight Senior Cup medals while six finals appearances since the turn of the century, the last of which was just two years ago makes that figure more surprising.

“Strange is the word for it. A lot of people associate Pegasus with older players, the likes of me, Claire McMahon, Pamela Glass who is not an old player but has been around, Sharon Moffett who has also been around for a while. We’ve a lot of young players in our side who were fully aware of the danger of not making the final. Now they realise they can get to a final and indeed win it. They’ve got that in their locker so we’ll look forward to it now.

“The younger players maybe don’t get the credit they deserve. There are eight new players involved in the Irish Senior Cup final.
“That’s a huge day for those kids and, yes people talk about the older players, but it is very good for the likes of myself to remind me that there are players who have never experienced this.

“You just need to be very careful of how much hype and sensitivity you put into your speech before you go out and play. A lot of nerves were in the changing room and I think that’s healthy. It grounded a lot of us last week.

“One of the younger members of the team made a fantastic speech before the Hermes’ game and she’ll be asked to do the same on Saturday.”

Asked whether she is regular approached for her wisdom from a stellar career, she laughs off the suggestion. “If one of them asked me [for advice] it would be more of a piss-take to be honest! Players coming through now are confident, confident in their ability and how they conduct themselves on the pitch.

“There’s a few ‘I remember when...’ type comments that we have round our dinner tables that we have a team before every Saturday and it’s all part of the fun. It’s more of a mickey-take of the older players.”

For the first time in 14 years, Pegasus reach this stage of the year not as Ulster champions, Ballymoney securing the Premier League title on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over Armagh.

Boyles, however, does see benefits in a strengthened domestic league. “The big thing is, when you play in a league which you win, comfortably on occasion, and then go out and face a Hermes or UCD or Railway.

“The level you have to get up to; it does take you time to do that. Ulster leagues are getting closer and that can only be a good thing. For Pegasus, with the younger players coming through and a new coach, it took us a while to get going and we slipped up early in the season.

“To be honest with you, I’d rather have an Irish cup and be in the finals of the IHL than having a 14th Ulster league title.”

Interview conducted by Stephen Findlater, Freelance Journalist on behalf of the IHA