Monkstown 1 (Andrew Ward) Glenanne 0
Monkstown won the Under-21 Cup yesterday in Pembroke after a 1-0 win over Glenanne in a pulsating game of hockey.
Andrew Ward (pictured) got the decisive goal with 15 minutes to go after Richard Sykes crash ball took a triple deflection before eventually trickling over the line via David O’Malley’s pad.
The timing of the goal was cruel on Glenanne who had held out for 15 minutes with ten men following consecutive sin binnings for Shane O’Donoghue and Jonathan Kane at the beginning of the second half.
O’Donoghue rattled the post with a late dragflick but they ran out of time.
It was a game in which ‘Town’ enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to really pressurise the Glens goal while the Tallaght side provided a constant threat on the counter attack.
Sam O’Leary came close twice early on but was thwarted by O’Malley on both occasions while Glenanne’s best chances fell to Kane who tested Craig Ellis with a slap hit from a second phase short corner.
Richie Shaw almost opened the scoring late in the half when he intercepted Nick Dee’s pass outside his own circle before running the length of the pitch. However, he failed to connect properly with his reverse shot.
The second half was affected by the two yellow cards for Glens midfielders with Monkstown desperately trying to break the deadlock.
The two corners they earned didn’t go to plan – Shaw got a block on the second one – while Phillip Byrne cleaned up brilliantly elsewhere.
However, with Glenanne back to their full quota, Ward struck. His deflection caught the inside of Alan Mcloughlin’s stick before nicking off O’Malley’s right foot and in.
The eventual victors put in a brilliant performance at the back with Nick Dee particularly impressive while Ward was a constant threat.
Glens put together a spirited final period but despite winning two corners and harrying the Monkstown defence at every opportunity they couldn’t find an equaliser.
* Report thanks to David O'Malley
9 comments:
congratulationa to The Town! well deserved.
Was at Pembroke for the whole day on Saturday and despite the lack of goals this was the best game of the lot.
Unbleievably fast paced hockey in beautiful conditions and two top sides as well.
Monkstown were probably marginally the better side but Glenanne never stopped running and actually probably had the best chances.
How unlucky to hit the post right at the end as well. Hard luck Glens and, more importantly, well done Monkstown.
well done wardy. You're great. Maria
I would agree that these two U21 teams would give both UCD and Bray a good game and probably could beat them both. The quality of a lot of the hockey was better in the U21 final than the play off match although goal scoring opportunities were in short supply.
this is going to be the first of many under 21 titles for monkstown for the next few years. Monkstown have the best colts in ireland
Hmmmmmm ... 8 of C of I's Irish Junior Cup winning squad were Under 21 (and 6 are under 18). Bandon club are pretty good too.
But let's not put yet another tournament in the schedule - those guys have plenty of Hockey already.
well on show was leinster u21 capt and 3 other leinster u21 players plus numerous u18 internationals and interprovincianal players.
Well Done Captain Delish great goal!
from Ger
what about pembrokes u21 team of senior internationals last year,surely the best u21 team seen in club hockey ever
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