Seconds into McClements Cup final

North Down Seconds 3

TWO goals from Owen Magee helped Banbridge Seconds defeat a resilient North Down Seconds at Havelock Park on Saturday and book their place in the final of the McClements Cup.

The 5-3 victory ensured that Banbridge Hockey Club will be represented in the final of the competition for the second successive year, as the club’s Third eleven are the reigning champions.

Banbridge’s squad was considerably bolstered from the previous week’s trip to Raphoe. Coach John McKee was able to welcome back a wealth of experience in the form of Doug Anderson, Lee Tumilty and David McAnulty.

North Down Seconds ply their trade in the league below Bann Seconds and the gulf in class was evident during the opening exchanges. Bann settled into a dominant rhythm, with McKnight and Kelly stretching their legs in the heart of the midfield. The frontline trio of Doyle, Wright and Magee, continued in their rich vein of form by overrunning the North Down defensive line and occupying dangerous positions throughout their opponents ‘25’.

A quick piece of thinking from Magee was instrumental in unlocking the North Down defence for the first goal of the match. A direct piece of running from the schoolboy star, following a quickly taken free hit, resulted in a shot at goal which the North Down keeper could only deflect into the path of the supporting Wright who swept the ball home from close range.

Goalscorer turned provider for the second moments later when Doyle slotted a Jamie Wright pass past the goalkeeper from two yards out. The breathing space of the second goal seemed to have a detrimental effect on the home side’s quality of hockey. Bann’s movement became lethargic and the slick passing that had been such a devastating feature of the opening fifteen minutes was resigned to memory.

The change of approach cost Bann a goal and gifted the visitors a glimmer of hope that they could find a way back into the contest. An overhead pass permeated the Banbridge left, creating a three on two situation against the defence. The North Down attacker squared the ball for one of his supporting team mates to fire under Beattie in the Banbridge goal and reduce the deficit to one.

John McKee had to reorganise his team at half time following the unfortunate injury of defender Matthew Bell. Doyle was brought back into the defensive line with McAnulty occupying his usual position at centre forward.

Bann strengthened their grip on the game following their first penalty corner of the second half. Anderson’s initial shot was saved but the rebound fell to the lurking Magee, who evaded the attentions of the North Down defence and dispatched a first time shot low into the goal.

A suicidal lapse of concentration from the hit off allowed the visitors to race up the pitch, almost unopposed, and win a penalty corner of their own which thundered into the top left of the goal after a wicked deflection off the outstretched stick of defensive runner Colin McKnight. Bann were proving to be their own worst enemies with uncharacteristic mistakes blotting what appeared to be a glorious opportunity to reach an Ulster final.

Offensively, Bann were still causing problems for the North Down defence and it was Owen Magee who netted his second of the afternoon with a reverse stick shot from close range after toying with four defenders and an exasperated North Down goalkeeper.

Not wanting to do things the easy way Banbridge conceded a third goal when the ball was bundled into the goal after two saves from Beattie.

With the game delicately balanced at 4-3 it was left to McKnight to settle the home team’s nerves with a powerful strike from the right hand side of the circle into the bottom left of the goal, sealing an unconvincing victory and securing a cup final berth.