Furious Quins denied by controversial goal decision
With the sides deadlocked at 2-2 going into injury time, the Irish side scored what they thought was a last-gasp winner.
However, although the umpire allowed the goal, technical delegates overruled him on the grounds that the final hooter had sounded before the ball crossed the line. Dragons went on to win the tie on penalty strokes, 3-2, which means Ireland remain in Division B for 2006.
Harlequins’ team manager Donal Kingston admitted afterwards: “We’re gutted, it’s a terrible way to lose a game. What makes it worse is the umpire himself awarded the goal. Paul Lombard had a shot with time almost up, the goalkeeper saved it but Richie Gash scored the rebound.
“We were jumping around, delighted because we knew the game was over, but the technical delegates went onto the field and decided the hooter had sounded before the ball crossed the line, and the goal was disallowed.”
The first half was an even affair, but Harlequins went on the counter-attack in the second, and David Eakins and David Egner goaled to put the Cork side ahead.
However, five minutes from time Dragons forced a short corner, and though the initial shot was stopped, they equalised from the rebound.
Then came the controversial goal that never was.
Kingston said: “The umpire awarded the goal but the technical delegates have overall control of the tournament. That said, they’re out sitting on the halfway line!
“I wouldn’t take anything from the other team, Dragons have finished fifth in the European Championship in the past and they were in our group because they didn’t win their domestic tournament.
“This was probably our best performance ever in Europe, and to play so well only to be let down at the end was devastating for the team and supporters.”
Harlequins’ coach Stephen Dale echoed Kingston in his assessment.
“You have to take these things as they come, but it’s disappointing the way it happened. We got the shot and the umpire signalled a goal. It’s unbelievable to have it disallowed.”
Dale was keen to get back to domestic competition.
“We’re coming to the point in the season when things are won and lost, and we can take this experience as a motivating factor.
"I don’t like moral victories, and this was a bad loss, but the lads are still on a high. We have to go back to the Munster League, and we’ll have to win the club championship if we want to get back here, but I’ve never come across such professional guys.
“Motivation won’t be a factor, they’re good enough to win anything.
“Coming here we’d never won in Europe, we ended the weekend with two wins and should have had a third.”
Northern Ireland ladies’ side Pegasus saw their game go to penalty strokes.
After a 0-0 draw with Barcelona’s RC Polo, Pegasus lost 4-1 on penalties. They remain in Division B for 2006.
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