Monday, January 25, 2010

Pembroke and Garvey in pole position


Men’s Irish Hockey League results:
Group A: Pembroke 3 (Justin Sherriff 2, Alan Sothern) Cork Harlequins 0
Pembroke were held at bay for long periods by Cork Harlequins, in particular by Reinout Mensink, but their overall dominance eventually won out as they picked up a bonus point win courtesy of Justin Sherriff’s late double.

In truth, it was all one-way traffic with ’Quins mustering just one shot as they spent the game with 11 men behind the ball and just a series of overheads to relieve the incessant pressure.

But they came within ten minutes of stealing a bonus point for a narrow loss before two brilliant Sherriff strikes gave the ’Broke all four points on offer.

Mensink, helped by John Hobbs, had managed to deny every Pembroke effort in the first half with player-coach Craig Fulton hitting the post while Alan Sothern and Mick O’Connor both had chances
Sothern eventually broke the deadlock just before three-quarter time from a corner and, with Mark Black serving a five-minute sentence for not retreating at a free, Pembroke used the numerical advantage to seal the win.

Sherriff took in Ken Treacy’s long ball and smashed in an unstoppable shot in the 61st minute and his second a mere 90 seconds later earned the winning bonus point from a tight angle

Monkstown 2 (Andy Ewington, Alec Barrett) Corinthian 2 (Darren Kimfley, Lucas Piccioli)
Monkstown picked up their first points of the 2009/10 IHL season with Andy Ewington striking inside the last ten minutes to deny Corinthian a second straight victory in their debut season.

Alec Barrett opened the scoring getting on the end of an Andrew Ward cross, to score a great opener but Lucas Piccioli levelled inside two minutes.

The reds were reduced in numbers four times – two yellows, two greens – but Darren Kimfley returned from a five-minute suspension to fire Corinthian back into the lead in the 59th minute.

However, Ewington responded instantly with a drag flick to tie the game up and, in spite of Brian Groves’ yellow card, the Town secured two points for the draw at Rathdown.

Banbridge 1 (Stephen Dowds) Instonians 0
Stephen Dowds nabbed the only goal of an intriguing tie at Havelock Park on Sunday afternoon, delayed after the fog had prevented the tie from being played on Saturday evening.

A major threat throughout, the youngster scored the only goal of the game in the fourth quarter, latching onto Niall Kelly’s pass to finish past Nigel Skillen and earn a vital three points.


Dowds had gone close in the early stages while the returning Mark Irwin also flashed a shot wide. Ross McCandless let a couple of corner opportunities slip away as chances were hard to come by. But Dowds secured the win late on to move the Co Down side into fourth in the group.

Pool A: 1. Pembroke 7pts (+4) 2. Instonians 5pts (+2) 3. Corinthian 5pts (+2) 4. Banbridge 4pts (0) 5. Monkstown 2pts (-3) 6. Cork Harlequins 0pts (-5)

Group B: Three Rock Rovers 3 (Peter Blakeney 2, Patrick Shanahan) Glenanne 4 (Stephen Butler 2, Gary Shaw, Shane O'Donoghue)
Glenanne got their IHL campaign back on track after an opening day defeat to Cookstown with a spectacular 4-3 win over Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road.

Rovers will rue their indiscipline which saw three players yellow carded and two serving green-card suspensions as they spent much of the game on the back foot but almost nicked a last gasp draw for the second round running.

Gary Shaw – a constant presence in attack in combination with the excellent Graham Shaw – opened the scoring, waltzing in from the right wing to slip the ball in at the near post.

Peter Blakeney levelled in fine style, collecting Garry Ringwood’s through-ball and deftly flipping over the on-rushing Steven Doran, playing through the pain barrier despite a cracked rib.

Rovers survived five minutes of 11 vs 9 play with Pierre de Voux and Alan Bothwell both on yellow cards while Joe Brennan was also binned for two minutes but, with the hosts restored to the full complement, the Glens got the lead back when Shane O’Donoghue finished after fine work by Stephen Butler and Alan Lewis.

Patrick Shanahan completed an excellent team goal – created by Colin Huet and de Voux – from 2-2 in the third quarter but a pair of brilliant Butler drags soon had Glenanne in the driving seat.

Peter McConnell and Lewis were both sin-binned but, with the latter on a yellow, Rovers got one back from a Blakeney corner. Their task to equalise was made slightly tougher when Bothwell was shown yellow for a second time – on this occasion for dissent from his side’s coaching staff – but de Voux almost levelled in the last minute.

He deflected well but Doran was brilliantly off his line to smother the danger and Glenanne took three points, a result they probably deserved on the balance of possession of an incredibly lively game.

Cookstown 1 (Colin Donaldson) Lisnagarvey 3 (Greg Thompson 2, Timmy Cockram);
Lisnagarvey became the pace-setters in Pool B as the only side with two wins from two as they got the better of Cookstown at Coolnafranky, Greg Thompson’s double doing the damage.

He set the ball rolling side three minutes, finishing off Timmy Cockram’s assist, a lead they held until half-time.

Colin Donaldson levelled following a great solo run but Garvey retook the lead when Thompson drove home. Cockram netted a 54th minute penalty stroke to confirm the win and top spot with six points.

Cork C of I 4 (John Jermyn 2, Peter Catchpole, Nigel Buttimer) Annadale 3 (Ian Hamilton 2, Jonny Quigley)
Cork C of I moved into second place in the Group B standings as the Garryduff men built a lead and learned their lessons from their opening day draw with Three Rock to hold on for the points against Annadale.

In a whirlwind opening, Ian Hamilton had whipped the visitors into the lead inside 70 seconds but three goals in a five minute spell had CI 3-1 up by the end of the first quarter.

John Jermyn dragged in the equaliser before Nigel Buttimer bashed in from the top of the circle and Peter Catchpole finished off a magnificent move, set in motion by Alec Moffett, for 3-1.

Jonny Quigley pulled one back in the second quarter but Jermyn restored the two goal advantage by the 43rd minute when he scored a trademark drag-flick.

Billy Lynch was adjudged to have brought down a ’Dale striker seven minutes later and Hamilton converted the ensuing stroke, setting up a raucous last 20 minutes.

Plenty of chances came and went, including a last minute corner for Annadale but the stop was missed leaving Jermyn to break and set up Moffett but he was unable to mark a fine personal performance with a counter-attack goal and deny Annadale a bonus point.

Pool B: 1. Lisnagarvey 6pts (+4) 2. Cork C of I 5pts (+1) 3. Glenanne 4pts (0) 4. Three Rock Rovers 3pts (-1) 5. Cookstown 3pts (-1) 6. Annadale 1pt (-3)

* For Adrian Boehm's photos from the Pembroke vs Cork Harlequins game, click here.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stephen ur report on the CI v Annadale is slightly incorrect.Billy Lynch the keeper was adjudged to have brought down an Annadale player to conceed a stroke and not defender K Lynch as stated.

Stephen Findlater said...

4.17pm, thanks for the comment, duly noted and corrected.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic display of goalkeeping by the cork hq keeper in the pembroke game. Really 6 or 7 nil would have been a more acurate scoreline. non the less credit where credits due.

Anonymous said...

a weekend of goalkeeping excellence...believe the ch keeper was amazing and doran kept the glens in it at times with a injury...nice too see two unknown keepers make some headlines

Still cant see past the broke winning overall even at this early stage...far too strong...think theyll ease past the glens on saturday

Anonymous said...

Well of course "The 'Broke" will "ease past the Glens on Sat." as they always do.So easy for the Masters of Hockey.Funny how good goalkeeping only seems to matter when it denies "the Broke" their rightful 10-12 goals.Hope Harte can make for Sat.he will be needed.

Anonymous said...

where and when is the glens v pembroke match on saturday?

Anonymous said...

Naa, the Glens have got the 'Broke' this time.Pembroke not realy ticking along as well as they could.Glens to win 4-2

Anonymous said...

well why don't we just wait and see then?Two top sides,should be a great game,can never call a winner in these games,too tight.

Anonymous said...

I would echo 10:40am, can never call a winner between the two sides. If Harte isn't there though I certainly fancy a flutter on the glens.

Anonymous said...

Will Harte be back in goals for Glens match??

Anonymous said...

rovers were a bit unfortunate not to get more from the match, would agree that a draw would have been the right score.

Anonymous said...

You can add Fitzie to the list of GK performances last weekend . He made a series of top saves to keep Monkstown in the game.

Anonymous said...

quins keeper was exceptional

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

The Fox is brutal these days, he hasn't scored in ages!

Anonymous said...

any more photos from the weekend's matches?