BANBRIDGE agonisingly missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Club Championship yesterday afternoon.
The locals went into their final Pool B game at Lisnagarvey's Hillsborough complex needing a win to progress.
But, despite a brave fightback from a two goal deficit, they just couldn't manage a winner as Three Rock held on join fellow Dubliners Glenanne, Pembroke Wanderers and the sole Ulster representative Lisnagarvey in the last four.
So Bann again exit the tournament at the group stage, but they can take heart from their battling performance against Rovers.
Three draws in three games shows that the locals, while definitely belonging at this level, are still just lacking the quality needed to turn promise into silverware.
Bann suffered a nightmare first half, being totally outplayed by a Rovers side who knew they only had to avoid defeat to progress. It was no real surprise when the opening goal arrived after 11 minutes following the third short corner earned by the Dubliners in quick succession.
Mitch Darling was the marksman, expertly deflecting the ball into the net after it had been swept goalwards by Peter McConnell.
Three Rock were well in control and seven minutes later it was 2-0 with Darling again on target, applying the final touch to Gary Ringwood's shot.
Bann were reeling at this stage and were very much second best in all departments. But the locals picked themselves off the floor and got a lifeline four minutes before the break when a free hit from Diarmaid Reay on the right was clinically finished off by Eugene Magee.
The locals were reduced to ten men just before the break when Dane Ward was sin binned and he remained off the pitch until eight minutes into the second half. However, despite being down to ten men, Stephen Dowds was unlucky not to draw Bann level when he rounded the keeper and shot wide of the left post.
Bann were getting ever closer to an equaliser and Ross McCandless was desperately unfortunate when he was denied by the frame of the goal after being teed up by Magee.
McCandless then turned provider midway through the half when his free from the right was squeezed home by Stephen Dowds to level matters. The stage was set for a grandstand finish and Three Rock were soon back on the offensive, Timmy Hill missing a good chance before Gareth Lennox had to be alert to deny Darling and Colin Huet in quick succession and then McConnell from a penalty corner.
But Bann were still very much in the hunt and, with Three Rock reduced to ten men, they mounted a late rally which almost brought its reward.
They earned three short corners in the closing three minutes. Geoff McCabe fluffed the push out from the first, while from the second Three Rock keeper Charlie Henderson palmed away a drag flick from Ross McCandless.
Then, with time up, Bann were handed one last chance but McCabe again failed to connect properly with the push out and the opportunity was gone.
It was a heartbreaking end for Bann who paid a huge price for a disappointing first half performance.
The make-up of next season's inaugural All-Ireland League was announced at Hillsborough yesterday and Bann have been grouped with Lisnagarvey, Three Rock Rovers, Monkstown, Fingal and Cork Church of Ireland. The other section includes Cookstown, Annadale, Instonians, Pembroke Wanderers, Glenanne and Cork Harlequins.