Garvey season ends in defeat at Banbridge

Lisnagarvey’s long season came to a disappointing end at Havelock Park last Saturday when they were beaten by old rivals Banbridge in the semi-final of the IHL.
Mandatory Credit: ROWLAND WHITE / PRESSEYE
Men's Irish Hockey League Semi-Final
Teams: Banbridge (red) v Lisnagarvey (blue)
Venue: Banbridge
Date: 5th April 2014
Caption: Lisnagarvey in defensive modeMandatory Credit: ROWLAND WHITE / PRESSEYE
Men's Irish Hockey League Semi-Final
Teams: Banbridge (red) v Lisnagarvey (blue)
Venue: Banbridge
Date: 5th April 2014
Caption: Lisnagarvey in defensive mode
Mandatory Credit: ROWLAND WHITE / PRESSEYE Men's Irish Hockey League Semi-Final Teams: Banbridge (red) v Lisnagarvey (blue) Venue: Banbridge Date: 5th April 2014 Caption: Lisnagarvey in defensive mode

The 3-1 score-line in Banbridge’s favour was not a true reflection on what was a tight game.

Garvey played well in the opening 20 minutes but they could not maintain their intensity and missed a number of chances while Bann were quick to grab the few chances they created.

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Timmy Cockram almost laid on a goal after four minutes but no one could get on the end of his fine right wing cross. John Tormey had to make a good block from Stephen Dowds in the 12th minute as the game settled down to a midfield battle where Daniel Buser and Bann’s Phil Brown locked horns on many occasions.

Cockram combined with Jason Lynch and Buser before his shot went past the post in the 14th minute as Garvey deserved a goal from their pressure.

James Lorimer was on hand to clear Bann’s first penalty-corner off the line but a minute later, a move down the right gave John McKee the chance to open the scoring and at the end of the first quarter, Garvey trailed by that single strike.

The Banbridge goalkeeper Gareth Lennox was quickly in the game in the 20th minute with a save from Peter MacDonnell while Lorimer provided Timmy Cockram with a great pass before the Ireland striker saw his tame shot saved by Lennox.

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James Lorimer was in fine form, taking another Banbridge chance off his goal-line in the 28th minute while after a Richard Arneill surge, the ball fell loose in the Banbridge circle and the ever alert Timmy Cockram knocked it into the net on his reverse side to bring his team a hard-fought equaliser in the 30th minute.

Sean Murray saw a great effort deflected past the post as the game approached the half way stage with still all to play for in a very close encounter.

The second period was only four minutes old when Banbridge scored the vital second goal. A swift move down the middle of the pitch gave Bruce McCandless room to turn in the circle, shoot and a deflection did the rest, wrong-footing both defender James Lorimer and keeper Tormey.

Garvey struck back with a second penalty corner in the 43rd minute which was well saved by Lennox while a strong run by Daniel Buser almost brought an equaliser for Garvey but his shot screwed past the upright.

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Garvey’s first penalty corner was superbly stopped by the stick of Gareth Lennox in the 50th minute but in the 52nd minute Garvey missed the chance of the game when a goal looked certain.

Andy Williamson had another chance blocked by Lennox in the 58th minute while at the other end John Tormey had to make two good interventions to prevent Banbridge extending their lead.

A second penalty corner was forced by Cockram in the 66th minute but when the push out was slow, a recovery shot from Sean Murray was again well blocked by Lennox and the writing was on the wall for Garvey and in the last minute of the game Banbridge sealed their place in the final with an unstoppable drag-flick from Stephen Dowds to give his team a flattering 3-1 victory.

Garvey, well as they played, seemed to be a tired outfit and Banbridge finished the game physically stronger.

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Garvey can only be proud of their performance over the season. Ulster league champions, beaten Kirk Cup finalists and semi-finalists in both the Irish Senior Cup and the IHL isn’t bad for a team in transition and one which regularly fielded more than three schoolboys.

Next season, they should benefit from this policy but Errol Lutton would have given a lot for the services of the injured Mark Raphael in the closing stages of an increasingly intense season.

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