Player Interviews
Jenny Burke - Hermes

HERMES’ legend Jenny Burke is hoping last week’s Irish Senior Cup final defeat to Pegasus will act as the spur to propel her side to a maiden Irish Hockey League crown. In the two previous editions of the competition, they have been denied at the semi-final and final stage of the competition on penalties, falling to Saturday’s opposition, Railway Union, in 2010.

In captain Lisa Jacob’s gracious ISC final speech, she made reference to the much-changed line-up with eight of the side newcomers to playing in a national final. Such a number is quite rare for a side of Hermes’ calibre, especially given they were finalists two years ago.

Irish internationals Chloe Watkins and Niamh Atcheler switched to UCD but gained the experience of Irish players Sinead McCarthy, Jacob and Audrey O’Flynn as well as Sinead Connery and Kerry McComish. And Burke believes that the anguish endured can help the Booterstown club bounce back stronger, learning from their mistakes at Belfield.

“We’re disappointed after the Irish Senior Cup final because we didn’t perform and just felt that we nearly snatched a draw by not playing particularly well. We’re thinking if we just could have got ourselves going earlier.

 “But we had a great team night out after; you’d swear we won it as every single member of our team was there; a really good bonding night where we could forget about it. 

“We’re so lucky that we’re still in a competition as well because you can be in a big match like that, not play well and that’s that. But we have a second chance to make amends and play to our potential.”

Another factor in the much changed side is the introduction of a string of youth internationals into the senior panel, among them Gillian Pinder who made her senior international bow last Sunday against France. Emma Russell is an Irish U-18 panelist while Laura Pinder is another schoolgirl who is a regular squad member and Burke, who has won everything in the game bar this new format of All-Ireland club championships, says they are now mainstays despite their tender years.

“You do kind of forget with the schoolkids and the younger players have never experienced the pressure which comes with these big matches. Last week will hopefully help with that and realise there is nothing to be scared of, just to give everything and not worry about making a mistake and have regrets after the match.

“Everyone’s itching to get out on the pitch and make amends. Dying to get out and play. I’m in a very positive mood, you’d swear we won! That team night out, we were suffering together but it brought us together and made us stronger.”

Their emerging rivalry with Railway has been one of the highlights of recent times. Hermes got the slight edge on form this season, their recent 2-0 league win was pivotal in securing Leinster honours. But how much these two sides actually know about each other is up in the air as both sides welcome large contingents from the Irish panel, all of whom missed the league meetings between the sides.

“Railway may well have been up watching us last weekend but I’m not sure they’ll have learned very much.

"There’s definitely a rivalry there. But it’s exciting and it makes the competition all the more interesting. It is a battle between Logie [Mary Logue] and Mick [McKinnon] to try and get the tactics right, looking over the videos and all that. I don’t we’ve played each other with all our internationals so it’s hard to gauge. It could be a totally different game.

“It’s such a strong competition, the cream of the crop, having to be good enough in your Leinster league week in, week out to make the cut. 

“You’re playing the best teams in the country which is brilliant for club hockey. It’s the one thing that we really want.”

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