It’s D-day in Garvey’s IHL Pool A

Four teams, including Lisnagarvey, are still in contention for the two qualification places to earn a route through to the finals weekend at Banbridge’s Havelock Park on 5-6 April.

Garvey take on Cookstown at Comber Road tomorrow (pass-back 1pm) knowing a win will definitely see them through. A defeat, however, would let either Three Rock Rovers or Cookstown into that all-important second spot.

Pool leaders Pembroke host TRR at the same time on Saturday and a defeat for them coupled with a Garvey win would even see the Comber Road side top the pool.

It’s all wide open as Garvey could still finish anywhere from first to fourth.

Coming off the back of their Ulster Premier League victory in Raphoe on Tuesday, coach Errol Lutton knows his side have to get their heads back in the game quickly.

“Saturday’s a mssive game for us,” he told the ‘STAR.’

“We have to refocus ourselves again after Tuesday night and get ready for what is going to be a very difficult game.

“It will be a very tough game for us. Only two of the four teams still in contention can go through.

“We have a young squad. We have three of four schoolboys in the 16 every week and it’ll all be a good experience for them.

“We’ve played Cookstown two or three times this season. They played very well in our game up there and were 2-0 up before we came back to win 3-2. “They’ve had some excellent results in recent weeks and it’ll be a very tough game.”

Cookstown were third behind the big two of Lisnagarvey and Banbridge in the Ulster Premier League but were a full 10 points behind first and second place. They have already suffered two defeats to Pembroke and TRR in the IHL but their two bonus points have kept them in contention for a qualifying place.

Garvey, of course, had to beat Three Rock last weekend to keep their qualification hopes alive and Coach Lutton was understandably delighted with his side’s vital 3-1 victory.

He said: “It’s was very pleasing, especially as we had to win to keep ourselves in the running for the semi-finals. The lads played very, very well and it was great for us to get a win over a very good team and the current Irish Senior Cup champions.

“After they pegged us back to 1-1, it was great just to stay in the game until the third quarter. We’re really delighted with the result.”