LGSHA 2025: O’Neill’s strike helps North Albany defeat minor premiers Mt Barker and grab grand final berth

North Albany earned the first spot in the women’s Lower Great Southern Hockey Association Retravision women’s A-grade grand final with a gritty 1-0 semifinal win at Mt Barker on Saturday. Fenella O’Neill scored the only goal, putting the Redbacks through and leaving Mt Barker with a tricky trip to Albany on Saturday to tackle last season’s premiers Spencer Park in the preliminary final. Mt Barker earned their double chance by finishing minor premiers, leapfrogging North Albany to take top spot on the last day of the regular season. However, it was Redbacks who made the most of their opportunity to take the showpiece short cut, for which coach Darren Parkes was grateful. “It’s a relief to be going through to the grand final but we have a lot to work on,” he said. “It’s good to have a week off because it gives us an extra training session and gives the girls a bit of a break as well. “We definitely need to sort out our press, but our game will also depend on who we have to play in the final. “Mt Barker and Spencer Park play in different ways so how we approach it will depend on who we’ll be facing.” Mt Barker coach Richard Ewen was without midfield playmaker Renae Parsons for the semifinal but was happy with his side’s performance and optimistic about the challenge ahead. “We struggled to win games at the start of the season but as it went on, we have improved a lot,” he said. “We have a lot of talent and tenacity, and I firmly believe we can beat any team.” Mt Barker, as ladder leaders, could have had home advantage for Saturday’s winner-takes-all clash with Spencer Park but the players opted to travel to Albany. O’Neill’s goal came early in the second half as she arrived at the far post to finish off a decent cross. Mt Barker could not find a response, allowing Parkes a timely exit so he could head to Albany for Park men’s semifinal against Manypeaks. Ewen said both teams had pressed high in an even match-up, but his team had just lacked firepower. “We were slightly out-gunned in the end but I am feeling very positive about our next outing,” he said. Mt Barker face Park in the women’s preliminary final on September 13 at 2.15pm.