Top four go head-to-head in toughest ever men’s club finals

THE four top men’s hockey teams in the country over the past few years go head-to-head this weekend at Belfield in what is being widely predicted will be the toughest ever club championship finals.

With this year’s cup holders, Instonians, last year’s cup winners, Lisnagarvey, and the current club champions, Cork Church of Ireland, along with Cork Harlequins, each fighting for the title, the spoils will not be won easily.

Indeed, according to Wes Bateman, Harlequins’ Irish international goalie, it could be the most exciting weekend of men’s hockey action seen in this country for some time, simply because the teams involved are so competitive.

“Without a doubt the four clubs involved are the best in the country at present and that will add to the spectacle. None of these teams will be easy to beat and I’ve no doubt whoever wins it will deserve it,” says Bateman.

Understandably playing down his own sides’ chances, the ’Quins’ keeper reckons if there were seeding for the competition, they would be last.

“On form, you’d have to rank us lowest of the four, but that does not mean we cannot win it. It would be difficult for us to do so, especially as we are in a rebuilding phase at present, having lost five starting players from our line-up since last season.

“Having said that, we have been performing reasonably well for a team in transition and we will not lay down for anyone, which is good. We know what is required of us and we have been working hard in recent weeks with this competition in mind.

“We went to Germany at Easter and had a programme of three matches in three days. Admittedly, these were not as intense as the games this coming weekend will be, but it gave us a feel for what is ahead. We’ve approached this in a very professional fashion and, hopefully, that will pay off.”

Bateman admits the three teams Harlequins face are all very physical and well used to the sort of pressures this type of tournament will pose.

“Lisnagarvey are a tough outfit and they’ve already played in European competition this year and even though they are quite a young side, they have a lot of experience all the same.

“We played Instonians, of course, in the Cup final, recently, and while we lost that match, we were able to take a lot out of it. We might have won had our finishing been better, but that’s something we’ve been working hard on since then. We defended quite well against them too, but luck was not with us and if we get any bit of good fortune, we might be able to reverse that result.”

On neighbours and arch rivals, Cork Church of Ireland, Bateman reckons playing them at a neutral venue, will add to the spectacle.

“Of course we are more familiar with them than we are with the other two, but we have a good rivalry and that is positive. The fact we play them in Belfield will add something different to the match and that’s something I’m looking forward to.”

The men’s and women’s club championships will be played simultaneously over the weekend, concluding on Monday. The four qualifiers for the women’s competition are Hermes, Loreto, Pegasus and Old Alexandra.

The schedule is as follows: Sat May 1: 10.00, Hermes v Loreto; 12.00, Cork C of I v Instonians; 14.00, Cork Harlequins v Lisnagarvey; 16.00 Old Alexandra v Pegasus. Sun May 2: 10.00, Cork C of I v Lisnagarvey; 12.00, Hermes v Pegasus; 14.00, Loreto v Old Alexandra; 16.00, Cork Harlequins v Instonians.

Mon May 3: 09.30, Hermes v Old Alexandra; 11.30, Instonians v Lisnagarvey; 13.30, Loreto v Pegasus; 16.00 Cork C of I v Cork Harlequins.