Harlequins Mens Hockey Match Report

Harlequins(A) 2 - C of I(A) 0

Mens Munster Division 1

Saturday 6th November 2004

Scorers: R.Gash, D.Lombard

The first half was very tentative with both teams finding it difficult to create clear cut chances. Both teams were very well organised & defences were well on top. Quins had one corner but failed to test the keeper. CofI's best chance of the half came when an overhead was picked up by one of their forwards but a superb covering tackle by Conor Harte snuffed out the danger.

Quins began the second half with a much better tempo & began to ask testing questions of the CofI rearguard. In the 46th minute Paul Lombard picked up a loose ball in the CofI circle & with excellent vision picked out Richard Gash at the top of the circle. Richard struck the ball first time & his shot struck the back board before the keeper could re-adjust his position. Shortly after this the increasingly influential Paul Lombard created another excellent opportunity for Quins. This time he picked out John Aherne but his powerful strike was well saved by the keeper. David Lombard also had a chance to increase the lead but he failed to test the keeper from close range. With ten minutes remaining Quins conceded a soft short corner & almost paid the penalty. Ali Dunne's drag flick evaded Wesley Bateman but was superbly saved on the line by Mark Black. With 5 minutes remaining a goal from David Lombard wrapped up the points. Paul played a quick free to David & his shot deflected off a defenders stick & beat the keeper.

W. Bateman, J. Hobbs, P. Chambers, C. Harte, J. Black, M. Black, J. Aherne, D. Lombard, P. Lombard, R. Gash, D. Egner, D. Eakins, L. d'Alton, S. Nicholson, P. McLaughlin, D. Harte

by Rory Noonan

At half-time Church of Ireland were probably the happier of the two sides as many expected them to lose heavily to the more experienced 'Quins side.

But to their credit they gave as good as they got and had the best chance of the half when a move involving Ali Dunne and Jonathan Bruton flew wide.

The second-half saw the game open up and on 46 minutes Paul Lombard crossed to Richard Gash who rifled a shot to the net to put 'Quins in front.

In the 67th minute 'Quins put the game beyond doubt Church of Ireland when David Lombard scored following a quick free by his brother Paul.

W. Bateman, J. Hobbs, P. Chambers, C. Harte, J. Black, M. Black, J. Aherne, D. Lombard, P. Lombard, R. Gash, D. Egner, D. Eakins, L. d'Alton, S. Nicholson, P. McLaughlin, D. Harte