Garvey’s late, late show sees off Bann
LISNAGARVEY remain at the summit of the EY Irish Hockey League following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Banbridge at Havelock Park on Saturday.
James Lorimer’s ( right) winner came with just seven minutes left after yet another close contest between the two arch rivals.
Bann had led 2-0 in the corresponding Irish Senior Cup game, only to go down 3-2 and they were again ahead in the rematch.
Garvey went into the game on the back of four straight wins which had yielded 27 goals but defender Jonny Bell said he always expected Saturday’s game to be tight.
The Ireland captain said: “Local derbies between ourselves and Bann are generally very intense affairs and this one was no different.
“We had plenty of chances, missed a penalty stroke and sent a couple of efforts off target but it was great to get the win as Bann had their opportunities as well.
“We are a very young squad in the main so we have made a good start to the season and long may it continue.”
After Garvey’s Andy Williamson missed from the penalty spot, Eugene Magee slammed home a penalty corner for the opener shortly after the break.
Pe t e r McKi b b i n slotted in the equaliser from another set-piece and Lorimer banged in the winner with a trademark drag flick.
Elsewhere, there was more disappointment for Annadale, who remain anchored to the foot of the table following a 3-1 home defeat to YMCA.
Dale’s Will Aston and Ben Campbell swapped goals in a closely fought first half before Scott Ruttle put the Dubliners ahead after the break.
The Belfast side hauled off their keeper in the last five minutes to have an extra outfielder but the move backfired as Ben
Chadwick found the empty net to seal the win. In the Ulster Premier League, Cookstown beat Mossley 6-0 while North Down were 7-0 winners over Queen’s.
In the Irish Hockey Trophy, there were wins for Raphoe, South Antrim and Belfast Harlequins but defeat for Newry, who lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Waterford.
Results: EY Irish Hockey League: Annadale 1 (W Aston) YMCA 3 (B Campbell, S Ruttle, B Chadwick); Banbridge 1 (E Magee) Lisnagarvey 2 (P McKibbin, J Lorimer); Glenanne 4 Corinthian 4; Monkstown 6 Three Rock 0; UCD 2 Pembroke 2; Ulster Premier League: Cookstown 6 (S Smyth, C Anderson 2, S McCabe, P Thompson, M Anderson) Mossley 0; North Down 7 (P Templeton 2, J Gilmore 2, R Davidson, D Morris, P Wilson) Queen’s 0; Intermediate League: Antrim 13 Parkview 0; Irish Hockey Trophy: Bangor 2 (R Townsley, D McClune) Raphoe 3 (G Patterson, J Meehan, J Long); Belfast Harlequins 5 (M Gray 2, S McGrath 2, A Tweed) Portadown 2 (S Johnson, R Bennett); Kilkenny 2 South Antrim 4 (J Brown 2, B Clarke, M Taylor); Waterford 3 Newry 3 (J Taylor, K McWilliams 2) (Waterford won 6-5 on pens.); Civil Service w/o Weston.