Darling delight as Rovers edge towards place in knockout phase

EUROPEAN HOCKEY LEAGUE, POOL D

THREE ROCK ROVERS produced the biggest win by an Irish club in Euro Hockey League history as they smashed Racing Club de France, giving them a great shot at reaching the knockout stages in Barcelona.

Indeed, it was Rovers’ first win in the EHL in five attempts and they did so in emphatic fashion against a Racing side whose nations ranking is four places above Ireland.

It was tighter, though, than the scoreline suggests as Rovers edged into a 1-0 half-time lead thanks to Conor Empey’s accurate shot.

Daragh Walsh’s corner deflection gave them some breathing room before they ran riot in the last quarter with Mitch Darling adding a double and Mark English (pictured) and Ross Canning scoring in the last five minutes.

It means a win against Spanish hosts Junior FC this afternoon will see Rovers through to the knockout rounds next Easter.

“The late goals probably sugar-coated it a little,” Darling said after the win. “It was a tight enough affair but it does give us extra confidence going into tomorrow.

“It’s all guns blazing now.

“We have been playing good hockey but the finishing touch hasn’t been there. It was today and what a stage to do it.”

THREE ROCK ROVERS – J Carr, R Nair, R Canning, M Darling, L Madeley, D Walsh, K Mullins, H Morris, J Hosking, K McAlister, H MacMahon. Subs: C Empey, J Mullins, B Walker, M English, A Flynn, B McCrea, S O’Brien. RACING CLUB DE FRANCE – A Croutte, N Martin-Brisac, D Dominik, B Lahaut, A Haughton, J Francotte, C Peters-Deutz, A Turull, C Duchesne, A Coffigniez, A Bellenger.

Subs: B Gosset, O Poulain, J Summers, K-V Merle, C Fremaut, T Fouquet.