Bragging rights at stake as Lynch brothers face-off

LOSING to your little brother in the back garden is bad enough, but doing so in an Irish Hockey League semi-final “just can’t happen” according to Jason Lynch.

Lisnagarvey’s Irish international hot-shot comes up against younger sibling Karl of Pembroke Wanderers at Hillsborough tomorrow — a repeat of last year’s final — and is refusing to contemplate defeat.

Both grew up playing for Cork Church of Ireland on Leeside, but their studies have taken them elsewhere. They’ve been in opposition twice before, Jason taking the honours, but Karl — just back from a EuroHockey League (EHL) campaign with Pembroke — refuses to be cowed. Two years ago when Jason decided to play for Ulster, his U21 side finished 3-0 winners against Munster but here members the day more for his tete-a-tete with his younger brother.