Harlequins Mens Hockey Match Report

Lisnagarvey(A) 2 - Harlequins (A) 1

Harlequins win 3 - 2 on agg.

Irish Club Championship

Quarter Final - 2nd Leg

Saturday 27th April 2002

Scorer: P. Lombard

Quins qualified for the club championship finals next weekend with a great victory over Lisnagarvey. Garvey, as expected, began the game in a very positive attacking mode. They created a couple of good chances from play,
one of which was superbly saved by Wesley Bateman. They also had a number of short corners which were very well defended. Quins were always dangerous on the break & were unlucky not the score through John Aherne & Edward Gash.

The Garvey keeper also pulled off an excellent save from David Eakins. Half time arrived with Quins 2-0 advantage still intact.

Paul Lombard looks on

Into the second half & Garvey really increased the pace, pressing Quins at every opportunity. Again they were awarded a number of short corners & scored from one with a drag flick after 15 minutes. 10 minutes later & they repeated the dose to level the tie at 2-2. However, with time running out & Quins temporarily reduced to 10 men, Paul Lombard made an excellent 20 yard run to the top of the circle, spun & drove a tremendous shot past the keeper. 3-2 to the good & time almost up, Quins held firm to the final

The players again wish to thank their loyal sponsors & supporters for their tremendous encouragement over the weekend.

'The Belfast Telegraph' said they found to hard to believe that 'Ulster champions Lisnagarvey won't be in European action for a fourth successive season'. Ulster's league winners had never been beaten over 2 legs since the inception of the club championship, but, as happened on Saturday, there is always a first time.

Quins took a 2 goal lead into the game after a Ducksie brace at Farmers X, but the tie was far from over; C of I had taken a lead into the second leg against 'Garvey the previous year and had come away empty handed from Balaris. 'Garvey were at full strength, while Quins were missing Morty; following a consultation with Dr. Gash and Dr. Hayes-Curtin, he was sent to have an operation on his thumb instead of travelling to Lisburn.

Although H'quins had some good scoring oppurtunities, the first half ended 0-0. Johnta coming closest with a well struck shot from the top of the D, which somehow eluded the far corner. Fishy and Porn defended well, and suceeded in scuppering any Garvey advances. Garvey pushed forward strongly in the second half searching for the two goals needed to take the game to extra time, primarily through raids by Julian Stevenson and the Tumilty brothers. 'Quins went a little deep and after about 45 mins Philip Stirling got the opening goal for the home side. His drag flick landed in the side netting low to Wes' left. Stirling went on to score his, and 'Garvey's, second, with about 15mins left. The goal was a carbon copy of the first. This left the scores all square on aggregate, 2-2.

Nerves began to get a little frayed and H'Quins were down to 10 men in the 63 min, (we won't mention who got sent off). But with 5 mins remaining, Irish international Pauly 'plums' Lombard got forward, recieved the ball on the top of the 'Garvey D, skipped wide of the defender and hammered the ball across and past the keeper - he had no chance. This left the home side needing 2 goals to advance. It was then their turn to lose disipline, in the face of stern Johnta tackling, Lee Tumilty was sent off - finishing any slim hopes of 'Garvey revival. It was a major dissappointment to Garvey not to be in the Club Championships, especially as this is their centenary year.

Since the great trip to Koln at Easter, where Quins recorded 3 victories out of 4, they have won the Munster Senior Cup, beaten Lisnagarvey and qualified for the Club Championships. In those 3 matches they have scored six and conceeded only twice. Hopefully this momentum can be maintained for the next 3 matches; possibly resulting in qualification for European competition. In the club championships Harlequins will face Instonians from Ulster along with Corinthians and Glennane, both from Leinster. Although none of these teams qualified for the competition last year, both Inst. and Glennane have won this competition and the Irish Senior Cup in recent years. This will be Corithians first taste of the Club Championships. Glennane start as favourites, but Quins know they should have beaten them already this year, and know they have every chance this weekend.