Bandon’s frustrating end to frustrating season

Bandon were again left to wonder what might have been after their hopes of EY Hockey League qualification were scuppered by Instonians.

James Dowling’s first-half hat-trick was enough for Inst to see off Denis Pritchard’s men without much discomfort in the semi-finals of the provincial play-offs in Grange Road on Saturday.

It brings the curtain down on a couple of seasons of frustrating missed opportunities for the West Cork men, having lost three Irish Hockey Trophy finals, two Peard Cup deciders and this year’s Munster league at the death.