Garvey miss out in Cup

On Friday evening, Garvey Goose played their qualifying group games at Comber Road.

They sailed through the three game section with wins over Mossley, Civil Service and Bangor scoring a bucket of goals in the process and proceeded to the second stage of the competition which was held at Havelock Park on Sunday.

The first semi-final involved Garvey who played against Annadale and after a good start had to work hard for their 2-1 win and a place in the final against old rivals Banbridge who had seen off Cookstown in the other semi final.

The final, like all the other rounds of the tournament was of 12 minutes each way and with just nine players in each side the play went from end to end with Garvey taking the lead through Andy Williamson in the first half. Banbridge quickly equalised and Garvey had to try very hard to stem the flow against an almost full strength team.

Banbridge took the lead early in the second period and it took a great strike from Sean Murray to keep Garvey in the match. However, two quick goals in the second half and the 4-2 score-line was enough to give Banbridge the first domestic trophy of the new season.

Next up for Garvey is a mini tournament at Comber Road this weekend. Visitors from Glasgow, Clydesdale and local team Belfast Harlequins make up the participants with Garvey starting off with a game against Clydesdale on Friday evening at 8.30pm.

On Saturday Garvey play Harlequins at 2.30pm and Clydesdale again at 5pm. The matches will be useful for the Garvey coaching squad to prepare the team for the frantic official start to the season.

It all begins at Stormont on Tuesday September 10 at 8pm in the first game in their Kirk Cup section. This is followed by the first Premier League match against Banbridge. This fixture could prove to be crucial even as early as September 13 and Garvey will have to be ‘up and running’ if they are to get a result against their old rivals.

The Kirk Cup continues on Tuesday September 16 with a match against Harlequins at Comber Road starting at 8pm. The remainder of the section games are Mossley at home on Tuesday Sept 23 and Instonians away the week afterwards.

The Garvey squad will contain some changes from last season with Mark Raphael looking like he will bow out of senior hockey but it also sees the return of Mark Robinson who took a break from the game a few years ago. He will add strength to the midfield while the welcome return of Andy Forrest should give the team some much needed penetration up front.

Coach Errol Lutton could only be pleased with his young team’s performance in the Anderson Cup and is looking forward to a successful start to the new season with some early results more than welcome.