Bann new boy set for Dublin debut in Irish Cup

Brad Logan, who will wear number four for Banbridge Hockey Club.

The men’s first team travel to take on Railway Union for their Irish Senior Cup second round clash.

Defender Brad Logan, who was announced as the club’s latest signing last week and is due to arrive on Wednesday, will definitely take to the pitch.

“He has to play because if he doesn’t play in the Irish Cup before Christmas, he can’t play in it after Christmas,” said Head Coach Mark Tumilty.

“Even if he does get injured between now and then, we’ll still have to get him on.”

Tumilty was delighted to secure the services of the 24 year-old.

“Defence is the one area of the pitch that we were a bit short,” he said. “It gives us a bit more freedom to push Bruce (McCandless) further up the pitch.

“A new face never does any harm, as we saw with Neil (Gilmore) and Jamie (Wright) last year.”

Bann travel to Union as they continue the defence of their Irish Senior Cup title and Tumilty knows a win is far from guaranteed.

“It’s a mssive game,” he said.

“They have a lot of players in and are scoring goals.

“We beat them earlier in the season but they played well. We just took our chances that day.

“It’s a big four weeks for us, with the league games coming up afterwards. These games will dictate the rest of our season.We need to be better than we have been.”

New man Logan has been playing for Stellenbosh University, where he won several national titles. He has represented the Western Province at U21 and Senior level, winning two interprovincial gold medals.

He has been involved in the South African international set up at Under 18 and 21 levels and last season he was called up to the senior South African squad.

“I’m delighted to be joining Banbridge,” he said.

“As one of the largest and most successful clubs in Ireland, this move to Banbridge offers me a lot of opportunities to further my hockey.

“Despite an ankle injury in the first part of the South African season, my return to fitness has seen me play some of the best hockey of my career recently winning the Men’s Interprovincial trophy with my province and being selected for the Senior South African squad. I look forward to starting training with the team and playing in the new EY IHL.”