Mighty Quins dig deep for victory
It may have taken extra-time and penalty strokes to separate the two sides in this nervy thriller at Garryduff after they had played out a 1-1 draw, but eventually it was the cup holders who prevailed after a game both coaches admitted was probably destined to end up this way.
Quins’ coach Stephen Dale described it as “an unbelievably tight contest”, and he was not exaggerating. Both teams had plenty of chances and while C of I probably played the better hockey, they were not able to break down their rivals, whose coach Neil Welch conceded that Harlequins “are the Cup holders for a reason.”
The Farmers Cross outfit now face a tough quarter-final trip up North to face Banbridge and Dale, for one, is convinced Saturday’s game will stand them in good stead as they chase a second consecutive Cup victory.
“I thought we suffered during this match for the lack of top line games we’ve had this season,” said Dale.
“C of I are a different side under Neil Welch and they showed that today. Our lack of games showed particularly in short corner situations. We had nine in the first half and didn’t convert any one of them.
“I thought we were rusty throughout and we certainly didn’t play any beautiful hockey today. But we had to dig out the win and we certainly did that.”
His opposite number admitted the loss was “very hard to swallow”, particularly as it now left “a huge hole” in the club’s season.
“This was always going to be a close game, but I really can’t complain about the overall performance of my team. We played well and we got everything we asked from the players, but that doesn’t make defeat any easier,” he said.
Quins, sporting a new black strip, started brightly and Richard Gash won a short corner after just three minutes, This turned into three consecutive short corners, none of which they were able to convert. They very nearly regretted their profligacy as C of I turned defence into attack with a swift counter which eventually saw Wes Bateman forced into a fine save from a John Jermyn reverse stick shot.
But the visitors’ pressure game saw them awarded two more short corners which they again wasted and it was the 18th minute before C of I once more troubled Bateman, when he again saved from Jermyn, this time from a short corner.
The former international goalkeeper was becoming a key figure for Quins and as the half drew to a close he was forced into two more fine saves from David Hobbs and Jonathan Bruton respectively, as well as another fine stop from Jermyn’s last gasp short corner strike.
C of I upped the pace right at the start of the second period and Bateman was in immediate action. First he stopped a point-blank effort from Ali Dunne and then brought off a flying save from another Jermyn short corner shot.
It took a further 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, however, and it was no real surprise that C of I got the first score.
It came from a fluid move started at the back by captain Andy Chambers, whose long upfield pass found John Jermyn. He is turn found Philip Smith in space and he finally beat Bateman with a low drive.
Five minutes later though, Quins were level when Eddie Gash won a free in midfield, spotted Mark Black lurking on the edge of the C of I circle and his shot was unstoppable.
Extra-time was almost inevitable at this stage and that’s what transpired. With the ‘golden goal’ rule applying, C of I very nearly wrapped it up after just two minutes when a ferocious Ali Dunne shot came back off the post, but the 15 extra minutes ebbed and flowed without further goals.
Down to penalties then and initially it went to schedule with Jermyn, Dunne, Bruton and Jason Lynch all converting for C of I, while Paul Lombard, Richie Gash, John Hobbs and Sean Nicholson converted for Quins.
Then Adam Pritchard stepped up and his tame shot was saved by Bateman and Dave Eakins found himself in position to win the tie. His penalty beat Mark Ruddle and that was that. Quins had once more prevailed in this Cup derby.
They now face Banbridge away in the quarter-finals after the northern outfit beat UCD on a convincing 7-1 scoreline. Elsewhere, there were convincing wins for Glenanne, who beat Belfast Harlequins 6-1, and Cookstown, who beat Bray 9-1. Lisnagarvey defeated Kilkeel 2-1, Annadale overcame Railway Union 0-3, while Mossley edged out Raphoe 3-2 and in the Dublin derby Three Rock Rovers beat Pembroke Wanderers 3-1 on penalties after the game ended 2-2.
The rest of the draw for the quarter-finals now sees Glenanne travel to Cookstown, Annadale entertain Lisnagarvey and Three Rock face Mossley.
CORK CHURCH OF IRELAND: M. Ruddle, K. Burns, P. Smith, J. Lynch, J. Bruton, N. Buttimer, J. Jermyn, A. Moffett, A Chambers (C), D. Hobbs.
Rolling subs: D. Hales, A. Dunne, T. Dunne, S. Parker, R. Dorman.
CORK HARLEQUINS: W Bateman, L. d’Alton, P. O’Driscoll, J. Hobbs, S. Nicholson, J. Black (C), M. Black, D. Egner, P. Lombard, R. Gash, D. Lombard.
Rolling subs: E. Gash, D. Eakins, D. Mills, M. Lombard.
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