Edgar celebrates in style

William Edgar’s name wasn’t listed in the match programme, but his stunning third senior goal for Annadale, ensured his name would be remembered.

Edgar, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week with twin brother John , produced an outstanding all-round performance, which helped keep Annadale in the title hunt.

He had, at times, the Comber sides defence at sixes and sevens, and if it wasn’t for some marvellous goal-keeping by Andy Coates, he could easily have added to his solitary effort.

Needing a win to keep in the title chase, Annadale started strongly, winning a series of short corners. But Dale’s penalty corner routine, which is normally lethal, was uncharacteristically out of form, and when Stephen McGimpsey took their sixth penalty corner off the line in the 27th minute, Dale were becoming anxious.

However, with five minutes of the half remaining Ian Hamilton steadied the ship, when he hammered home their ninth corner in off the cross bar.

North Down refused to lie down as they went for the equaliser but in the 55th minute when the home side were reduced to 10 men, after McGimpsey was green carded, Annadale struck.

A flowing move from right to left, saw Michael Purcell and Paul Jackson link to set up Jonny Quigley for a superb second goal.

Seven minutes later, Annadale secured victory through Edgar, when he cut along the top of the North Down circle to unleash an unstoppable reverse stick shot, which rifled the ball into the net.

And with three minutes remaining, Scott Caruth scored a consolation goal for North Down, when he showed how to score a penalty corner, with a goal that went in like a bullet.

Premiership Round-Up

It is as you were at the top of the premiership, with all the top three sides winning.

Leaders Cookstown kept their noses in front, thanks to goals from brothers Ian and Stephen Sloan, Ivan Steen and a rare Ewan Butler effort, as they saw off Mossley with Simon Todd scoring for the visitors.

Banbridge went on a goal scoring romp at Donegal, hitting five past Raphoe. Ross McCandless notched up his 38th and 39th goals of the season, Dane Ward, Colin Dowds and Simon Magowan also getting on the score sheet.

And with Annadale winning at Comber, the title is still in the melting pot.

Lisnagarvey secured at least a coveted top five place, for qualification into next season’s IHL, thanks to a late winner from Mark Raphael. But they had to come from behind, after Gareth Russell gave Kilkeel an early lead. But further goals from Timmy Cockram, Peter MacDonnell secured a narrow victory.
Round up

Irish Junior Cup

Both Lisnagarvey and Cookstown crashed out of the Irish Junior Cup semi-finals, as they lost to their southern opponents. YMCA securing a 3-1 win over much fancied Cookstown, and Monkstown seeing off Garvey 3-2.

An Andrew Shannon hat-trick, ensured North Down III’s would be playing Junior 2 hockey next season, after they clinched promotion defeating Inst III 3-2.

Results

Premiership
Kilkeel 2 Lisnagarvey 3
North Down 1 Annadale 3
Cookstown 4 Mossley 1
Raphoe 1 Banbridge 5

Senior One
Portadown P Down
Queens 3 Cliftonville 0
Antrim 4 Armagh 0

Sussex Regiment Cup
Foyle 1 Ballymena 5
Campbellians w/o Omagh
Portrush 2 Ballynahinch 3

Irish Junior Cup - Semi Final
Lisnagarvey II 2 Monkstown II 3
Cookstown II 1 YMCA 3

Junior Shield - Semi Final
Bangor III 4 Armagh II 1
Raphoe III V Cookstown V

Minor Cup – Semi Final
Queens II V Campbellians II
Mossley V 2 North Down IV 1

Irish Hockey Trophy Final
Civil Service 6 Suttonians 0

ONE 1918 Senior Review

By David Agnew

Senior One

Downpatrick were unable to field a team against Portadown on Saturday so the Ports will be awarded another three points which will keep them in contention for a Kirk Cup place as Armagh were beaten 4-0 by Antrim.

QUB though have an outside chance of nipping into that Kirk Cup place following their 3-1 victory over Cliftonville. It should have been so very different as Ville took an early lead and then missed a penalty stroke. The students got themselves back into the game when Richard Kerrigan scored from their first corner of the day and turned the game on it’s head when Neil Matthews finished off a great passing move with a simple tap in. The second half was end to end but Ville couldn’t convert chances into goals whereas QUB netted a killer third goal when Richard Kerrigan converted another corner.

Senior Two

In the days only Senior Two game Larne and Parkview shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw but Larne will be disappointed having missed a stroke in the last five minutes.

Sussex Regiment Cup

Grant Hayes put his name back in the headlines for Ballynahinch as he scored a hat-trick which earnt his side a place in the next round of the Cup and left Portrush feeling bitterly disappointed. David Price and Ricky McKinnon scored for Portrush but the home side also missed a couple of clear cut chances to take the game into extra time.

Ballymena strolled past Foyle winning 5-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Patrick McKeown and a goal each for David McDonald and Matthew Corbett.

Sadly Omagh had to concede their match to Campbellians.

***And finally… one person from each senior league club has got my mobile number. It would be a massive help if you could send through scores, goal scorers and brief match details after every game. Many thanks***

ONE 1918 Senior Spotlight

Senior One

Just three fixtures take place in Senior One this weekend and it’s the race for the last Kirk Cup place which takes centre stage.

Down are facing up to the prospect of Senior Two hockey again next season but they will travel to Edenvilla determined to prove a point. Their hosts Portadown had been on something of a good run until they slipped up against QUB last time out so this game could go either way. A win for Portadown will keep them in contention for that coveted Kirk cup place but nothing will be taken for granted.

QUB will fancy their chances of bagging another three points as they host Cliftonville at The Dub. Home advantage is always a bonus for the students so Ville will be hoping for a master-class from player-coach Julian Stevenson to keep their Kirk Cup hopes alive.

Armagh have the toughest assignment as they travel to take on Antrim at The Forum. I’m not sure what the history books say about Armagh’s participation in the Kirk Cup but from my own memory it must be quite some time since they last took part in Ulster’s elite cup competition. As it stands they have a great chance of claiming the remaining qualification spot and this alone may serve as a key motivator going into a tricky game against the league runners up.

Senior Two

In Senior Two the only action takes place on Friday night as Larne host Parkview. Both sides suffered disappointing defeats last time out so this one could be an exciting affair.

IHT Final

Good luck to NICS who face Suttonians in the Trophy final! Hopefully they can add to their already impressive season by bringing this trophy to the North once again.

Sussex Regiment Cup

Foyle will be hoping to build on their good form against PSNI last weekend as they host Ballymena while Omagh have the unenviable task of travelling to face league leaders Campbellians. In the remaining fixture Portrush host Ballynahinch who will see the cup as their best chance of glory this season now that promotion appears to be just out of reach.

Predictions
(and as usual my Ports team will be tipped for a win!)

Senior One
Ports 2 vs Down 1
QUB 4 vs Ville 2
Antrim 3 vs Armagh 1

Senior Two
Larne 2 vs Parkview 2

IHT Final
NICS 5 vs Suttonians 0

Sussex Regiment Cup
Foyle 1 vs Ballymena 2
Campbellians 5 vs Omagh 2
Portrush 1 vs Hinch 3

JUST A NOTE TO ASK IF SOMEONE FROM EACH CLUB COULD TEXT ME SCORE, SCORERS AND BRIEF MATCH DETAILS (INCLUDING CARDS!) EACH SATURDAY EVENING? THANKS. (ONE PERSON FROM EACH CLUB HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT MY MOBILE NUMBER)