Replay: Barossa Valley, Lower South East win titles at SA Country Hockey Championships

The Hockey SA State Country Championships have gone down to the wire, with penalty shootouts needed in both grand finals. Relive the deciders and pool game action here in our replays.

Two gold medal matches have gone down to the wire and been decided by penalty shootouts in an enthralling finale to the Hockey SA State Country Championships on Sunday.

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The Barossa Valley held its nerve to triumph against Riverland in the men’s grand final while Lower South East edged out Barossa in a thrilling women’s decider.

In a case of deja vu, the men’s clash finished 1-1 at full-time and had to be decided by penalty shootout before the women’s match went the exact same way.

Barossa’s men’s side celebrates after winning the penalty shootout against Riverland in the Hockey SA Country Championships on Sunday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

But the result did not go in favour of Barossa on the second occasion, as the Valley fell just short of claiming the championship double at the State Hockey Centre at Gepps Cross.

Barossa men’s coach Martin Gallasch praised his side’s fighting spirit to win the crown at the death, despite suffering injuries in the final.

“They held their nerve, which was great,” Gallasch said.

“Especially young Rohan Casey – the keeper – he’d never done a shootout before and he was amazing.

Barossa’s Josh Longo in action during the grand final against Riverland. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“It was pretty tight for all of today but we got there in the end.

“The old Barossa and Riverland rivalry continues.”

Scoring was difficult to come by in a tense first half of the men’s final before Barossa broke the deadlock just two minutes after the break.

Neat play from Josh Longo resulted in a penalty corner, which he then scored to put the Valley in front.

Lower South East claimed victory in the women’s grand final. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Barossa looked to be holding firm to take the win in regular time but Riverland managed to hit back through a penalty corner of their own with three minutes remaining.

Both sides netted their first two one-on-ones in the shootout before Casey made a crucial stop to deny Riverland.

Cody Longo rounded the keeper to score the winner as Barossa triumphed 4-3.

In the women’s clash, Lower South East showed its composure to defeat Barossa 2-0 in their gold medal shootout.

LSE looked strong early and pounced with a goal in the 11th minute to take the lead.

Barossa managed to hit back and level the scores just four minutes later through a sharp cutback and finish.

The second half was an arm wrestle, with both sides coming close to a winner before the one-on-ones were needed.

Barossa’s Rohan Casey, of Tanunda, and Lower South East’s Kate Fabian, from Mount Gambier, were best on ground during the Hockey SA Country Championships grand finals. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A stellar performance in goal from LSE keeper Kate Fabian was the difference as her more clinical side won the shootout 2-0 and claimed the title.

The tournament was played across Saturday and Sunday with men’s and women’s teams from seven regions – Port Lincoln, Lower South East, Yorke Peninsula, Whyalla, Barossa Valley, Riverland and Port Pirie – competing.

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