Weekend Roundup

Irish Hockey League

Timmy Cockram blasted Lisnagarvey clear at the top of Pool B, in the Irish Hockey league hammering five goals past Three Rock Rovers.

It was sweet revenge, as Rovers put Garvey out of the Irish Senior Cup last week, and this result means that Garvey are now firmly on course for the IHL play-offs.

The Hillsborough side were simply unstoppable, as they romped seven goals past Rovers, Peter MacDonnell and Greg Thompson scoring the other goals.

Two goals from David Ames and Ian Hutchinson gave Cookstown a 3-1 win over Annadale, and a slim hope of qualification for the play-offs, but Annadale’s third defeat, means their IHL dream has ended.

Banbridge squandered a 3-1 advantage against Corinthian in Dublin, as they ended up drawing three-a piece, and now face an uphill challenge to qualify for the finals. Ross McCandless, Dane Ward and an own goal, secured a point for Bann.

Instonians lost ground on their push for the play offs, after they went down to Pembroke Wanderers 3-0.

Irish Hockey Trophy

Civil Service are Dublin bound after they reached their first Irish Hockey Trophy final, when they edged out Antrim in a closely fought game.

Twice Antrim came back to level the match. Aaron Gill put Service into the lead, but Neil McCullough levelled it for Antrim. Colin Irwin restored Service’s lead after the turn, however Antrim were back in it, when Stuart McIlroy squared the game.

But with five minutes remaining, Peter Johnston smashed the ball home to put Service into the March 21 final, where they will meet Suttonians, who conquered Belfast Harlequins 2-1, with Steve McGrati the only scorer for Harlequins.

Irish Hockey Challenge

This season’s Irish Challenge competition decended into a complete farce, after the favourites and current holders Campbellians withdrew, when their Dublin opponents, St Brendans decided to play the semi-final of a national competition, on a grass surface.

With St Brendan’s refusing to change their decision, the Belfast side felt they had no other option but to withdraw. And Ulster interest in the competition ended, when Larne went out in the other semi final to Limerick 3-0.

Premiership/Senior Round up

Mossley eased their relegation worries, when they reversed last week’s scoreline against Raphoe, to win 3-0. First half goals from Simon Todd and Chris O’Flaherty and another goal in the second half from Andy Coulter, gave Mossley three welcome points and left Raphoe at the foot of the table.

Down look destined to return to Senior Two after Queens smashed six goals past them, to leave them at the bottom of the table. Chris Barnes bagged five of PSNI’s goals, as they also knocked six past Ballymena.

Results

Irish Hockey League 3rd Round

Pool A
Instonains 0 Pembroke Wanderers 3
Cork Harlequins 3 Monkstown 2
Corinthian 3 Banbridge 3

Pool B
Cork CofI 1 Glenanne 4
Cookstown 3 Annadale 1
Lisnagarvey 7 Three Rock Rovers 0

Irish Hockey Trophy
Civil Service 3 Antrim 2
Belfast Harlequins 1 Suttonians 2

Irish Hockey Challenge
St Brendans V Campbellians (Campbellians withdrew)
Limerick 3 Larne 0

Premiership
Mossley 3 Raphoe 0

Senior One
Down 1 Queens 6
Cliftonville 0 Portadown 5

Senior Two
PSNI 6 Ballymena 2
Omagh 1 Saintfield 0