Garvey set to start new season with Cookstown challenge

The Garvey squad is much the same as last season with just a few salient changes.

Brian Waring, for 21 years their ace defender has decided to retire from the senior game and there is little doubt his calming presence at the back will be sorely missed.

Brian has provided his team with so much experience and class over the seasons that he will be a very difficult man to replace.

The way is now open for the highly rated James Lorimer to stake his claim in the Garvey defence along with other young players like Adam McCann and Ross Kelly while skipper Johnny Bell, Steven Arbuthnot and Richard Arneil remain to provide stability.

The squad is strengthened with the return of Jason Lynch after his sojourn playing high level hockey in Germany; the Irish international will give the midfield more options while Andy Williamson, joined from Annadale, Peter MacDonnell, Daniel Buser and the evergreen Mark Raphael, form the basis of a formidable engine room.

With Timmy Cockram beginning the season for the first time for many seasons, it means Garvey will always be a threat up front but new coach Errol Lutton will be looking for goals from others sources, something which was somewhat lacking last season.

There also could be a place for the very promising Sean Murray and Daniel Nelson forming a very healthy competition for places in a team which will be aiming for a win over a change Cookstown side and lay down a marker for the weeks to come.

The match starts at the later time of 4.30pm giving as many people as possible a chance to see what could well be a close and entertaining encounter.