Sunday, March 1, 2009

Pembroke and Corinthian advance to Mills Cup final

Farcical scenes at Grange Road today as the Mills Cup semi-finals were delayed by an hour and a half as a mix-up in communications left supporters, players and umpires frustrated.


It will remain the enduring memory of the day where hockey and it's promotion was the big loser on the day.

Pembroke and Monkstown had been informed their game was to get underway at 12pm but when they took to the pitch to warm-up at 11.30am, they found Three Rock's junior section still with an hour left on their pitch allocation due to their long-standing arrangement to use the pitch every Sunday of the season between 9am to 1pm.

The issue was further compounded as no barman was available to provide sustenance for supporters already made to wait for what should have been a showcase event for Leinster hockey.

Clear answers have been hard to come by while conflicting reasons have been offered to The Hook as to how the situation arose but the net result was Pembroke and Monkstown's tip-off time was moved back to 1.30pm.


Pembroke 2 (Maurice Elliott, Justin Sherriff) Monkstown 1 (Francis Lee) aet
Perhaps as a result of their long wait, the two sides flew out of the blocks in a frantic opening with hard and fast balls flashing from end to end. The Town opened the scoring from their first corner, Franny Lee sliding the ball under David Harte after the international keeper had made two fine saves.

But within three minutes Maurice Elliott had made it 1-1, applying the finishing touch to Justin Sherriff's run and cross down the left flank. Pembroke bossed the remainder of the half but a series of crosses could only find deflections into the side-netting.

The second half was less frantic with Pembroke holding sway in the early stages of the half before Monkstown got back into it and had the best of the last 15 minutes. Clear-cut chances were not in abundance, though, and extra-time beckoned.

Sherriff created the best opportunity of the first seven and a half minute period but his cross after a lovely left wing run went just behind Maurice Elliott. However, the former sealed the tie with an absolute piledriver from a penalty corner, leaving the Town with next to no time to fight back.

Corinthian 4 (Mark Magner, Brian Doherty, Andrew Sutton, Darren Kimfley) YMCA 1 (Mikey Fry)
A low-key first half saw Corinthian and YMCA go into the break scoreless. Mikey Fry had gone closest, hitting the outside of the post with a flying volley after Richie Miles had made the original inroads, stealing the ball on halfway and feeding the veteran midfielder.
Early on, Chris Pelow had been influential to create good chances for both Rowland Rixon-Fuller and Miles Warren but neither could get clean shots off.

Fry, though, got on the scoresheet with a reverse-sweep into the net after David Robinson broke into the circle and squared.

It precipitated a strong Corinthian fight-back with four goals in jig-time. Mark Magner deflected in to level the tie before Brian Doherty nailed a low drag-flick. He went high with his next effort but pinged the bar. No matter, Andrew Sutton volleyed into the ground to make it 3-1 before Darren Kimfley scored the goal of the game.

He controlled a cracked long-corner beautifully on the spin, setting himself perfectly to bang in an unstoppable upright reverse to visibly shake the goal.

* To see pictures from Pembroke vs Monkstown click here and for Corinthian vs YMCA, click here

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Corinthians also put in a superb team performance in the U16 cup against Monkstown A to win 2-0 today.

Anonymous said...

anybody know the ucd vs railway womens semi result?

Stephen Findlater said...

Hermes and Railway won (the latter on strokes). More info in the morning.

Anonymous said...

If the time of the games was pushed back why were they correct on the programmes handed out?

Anonymous said...

did corinthians under 16s really win???

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable....can't even sort a pitch out correctly for the Semi's. Why didn't both branches get the 4 finals played on the 2 T.R.R. pitches anyway-would have been a fantastic day for hockey all around(and would have raised good funds).
Can we please check that 'they' have the pitch sorted for Paddies Day. A pint would be nice too

Anonymous said...

Didn't see that (the newly revised times) on the programmes but I don't care if the Branch or whomever get the admittance fee, if u charge in...u should at least water and feed supporters...absolute disgrace by HQ. A.B.

Anonymous said...

Stephen when are the nominations due in for the coaching awards for 2008/2009 - my understanding is its coves the later end of the 2008 season ie the all irelands and the leagues as they were not completed at the time of the awards ..

Anonymous said...

Think its fair to say that the branch messed up with the time slots for the semis yesterday not TRR.
But... for there to be no bar open is simply unacceptable. Its a showpiece event for hockey with lots of punters willing to spend cash. Those in charge of things behind the scenes, your a bunch of clowns.
TRR supporter

Anonymous said...

Thats a bit harsh from TRR supporter! They are the guys who have been keeping you fed and watered for years. I'm sure that being a struggling bar to make end meet they wouldn't have readily have let paying customers escape unless there was a good explanation / mix up.

Anonymous said...

And this is exactly why it is such a travesty that there were so many mess ups yesterday. Anybody have any opinions on the HOCKEY that was played yesterday? No, why not? Because they are too preoccupied with the other goings on. I feel sorry for the players who were forced to hang around waiting for an extra hour and a half rather than just focusing on the game

Anonymous said...

in truth, the hockey wasn't great!

Anonymous said...

I ca'nt believe the people running the girls game prior to the Mills Cup semi's did'nt in this instance,
give priority to the Mills games and call off their own. To see "Internationals" (some of the Pembroke guys) hanging around delayed because of a junior girls hockey game seemed crazy.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Corinthians U16s won 2-0

Anonymous said...

sorry but those internationals were juniors themselves once. those girls pay a sub to play their hockey once a week at the same time week in week out. it was their club pitch so why should they get thrown off the the leinster branch messed up? the branch made a mistake, get over it. Lesson learned, and it shouldnt happen again

Anonymous said...

You can see the results in the U16 cup here http://www.leinsterhockey.org/Public/CupResults.php

Anonymous said...

Sorry 2.19pm I disagree. In this instance we all know mistakes were made, but common sense should have prevailed and the juniors should have made way. I was charged 5 euro in at 11.45am to stand around and wait nearly 2 hours! Is that on?

Anonymous said...

I can't believe some1 actually said that "Internationals" shouldn't be left waiting! That is hilarious! DO you mind that ordinary folk had to wait around?

It was annoying that there was no bar but I'm sure TRR didn't want to miss out. ANd yes it was annoying to hang around, but the people on the pitch shouldn't have to be removed. Who cares who they were, they had full right to the pitch.

Anonymous said...

'To see "Internationals" (some of the Pembroke guys) hanging around delayed because of a junior girls hockey game seemed crazy.'


That was the funniest comment I have ever seen on this site! it brightened up my day! Is this person annoyed that Gordie and Justin had to wait around too or do they have to be playign Irish hockey today? To think, little girls took precedence over these starts... what is the world coming too. I mean its ok to keep the other players waiting...

But back to the hockey! The standard really dipped at times, in both matches. hopefully we're in for a more exciting final! No doubt any problems that occured will not happen again.

Anonymous said...

No its not but why should trr junior girls be made to pay for the leinster branches mistake. The programme stated that matches were to be played at one and three. It was wrong to charge anyone at that time when the mix-up was known but again thats the branches poor call.

Anonymous said...

This is not the first time the Leinster Branch have made a balls of semi final day. Last year, they also lacked the foresight to book the pitch and the semi finals had to be switched to Columbas at the last minute. This day has in the past been a great showcase for Leinster Hockey and one that can be profitable for the branch and Rovers. How is the game expected to progress when those running our provincial branch display such incompetence for the seond year running.

Anonymous said...

Your all missing the point and playing the BLAME GAME. OK the branch made a mistake, and mistakes happen occasionally, but where was common sense on sunday?
2 Senior semi finals, players and supporters, held up by junior hockey. I'm not anti Junior hockey at all but I saw no logic in what happened, its as if "we'll show the branch...."

Anonymous said...

Lads as a coach myself i know these junior matches are planned in advance so its not TRR juniors fault at all,its the leinster branch. did anyone not notice that it says 1 o clock start for pembroke and monkstown match and not 12?!

Anonymous said...

Ah guys come on. The underage teams only get to play once a week and it was a fantastic day (weather wise) so get over it! These things happen like. I was there for a 12 oclock start and was told that I didn't have to pay if I was going away and coming back. It was your own choice to hang around in TRR for an hour and a half! The hockey was pretty poor but I think the pitch situation is being blown out of proportion!
Pembroke Supporter

Anonymous said...

Well done to Corinthians U16 Boys who beat the holders Monkstown A's 2-0 - great performance

Anonymous said...

Mr Im not anti Junior hockey, judging on your comment you are - these young players of the future had there pitch time and in fact only get to use the pitch on a sunday morning - so what if you had to wait around that was your choice, if TRR did not open the bar - how about the bar across the road - get real guys I hate to break it to you but the world does not revolve around you - Leinster Branch made a bags of it, but the juniors should not have to pay for leinster branch short comings

Anonymous said...

The Branch are Volunteers.

We owe them alot, who gives if we had to wait around for an hour on a Sunday. Not ideal but people make mistakes. I reckon the people who give up their time for us do a pretty good job.