HOCKEY: '˜There's plenty more where that came from' says Bann's Magee

Eugene Magee has sent a warning to rest of Europe's top clubs - Banbridge are coming.
Eugene Magee, Hugh McShane and Philip Brown celebrate at the final whistle on Sunday.  Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press EyeEugene Magee, Hugh McShane and Philip Brown celebrate at the final whistle on Sunday.  Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye
Eugene Magee, Hugh McShane and Philip Brown celebrate at the final whistle on Sunday. Picture by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye

After helping his side put paid to the hopes of Saint Germain and Royal Leopold, Magee has his sights hixed on April’s Knock-Out 16.

Bann will again rub shoulders with the great and the good of European hockey - but that’s a stage Eugene says they firmly deserve to be on.

“I think it’s something special to win something like this with your club,” he said after Sunday’s heroic and all-important 3-3 draw with Leopold.

“We’ve another step to go in the knockout 16. We’re a good enough team. Now we’ve proved at this level that we can compete with the biggest teams in Europe.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s another step on that level. With the team we have, we can continue to grow. We’re young enough so we can continue to keep going.”

Bann had goalkeeper Gareth Lennox largely to thank for their progression in the EHL, the keeper most notable stopping a late Leopold corner to see Bann through.

“In the two games, he was unreal,” said Eugene. “Matthew Bell and all of our defence as well. Johnny McKee up front as Owen were brilliant. Fraser gave it his all again. jamie Wright, Petey Brown coming back from injury, Hugh mcShane - it’s hard to fault anybody. Everybody gave it their all.

“Isn’t it amazing just to come down here and see this let alone play in front of it?” he beamed from the pitch after the final whistle. The support was incredible and we needed that extra push. They were there to give us to it and we can only really thank them for it.”

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