Disappointment for Bann in Kirk decider

Banbridge 0

ANDY Barbour hoisted the Kirk Cup high with pride as Cookstown completed an historic double double yesterday.

Last season Cookstown won the league and cup and yesterday they repeated that, by adding the ‘Kirk’ to the Premiership title they won midweek.

The champagne corks may have been popping but there was little fizz in a game that lacked anything in the way of attacking hockey.

It really was a case of two chances, two goals and Cookstown took both of them.

The first half never got the pulse racing with both keepers mere spectators as defences cancelled each other out. With three minutes of the half remaining Cookstown won the first penalty corner of the game.

And from a well worked corner routine, David Ames got a vital deflection on the ball to send it high into the roof of the net.

It was crucial time to score, and three minutes after the turn Ames just failed to double his tally, this time sending a screamer across the Banbridge goal.

But that was it, as the game fell back to mediocrity, with Cookstown seemingly content to hold onto their one goal advantage and Bann clueless about how to spring open the Cookstown defence.

Then in the 62nd minute a rare moment of flowing hockey. With Bann pushing forward for the equaliser, Ivan Steen spotted Ames unmarked and as he attacked the Bann circle he slipped it to Ian Sloan and from the acutest of angles Sloan dispatched the ball past Gareth Lennox in the Bann goal with ease.

With five minutes remaining Bann’s first clear cut chance fell to Colin Dowds but Ian Hughes was equal to it and, blocked the shot. One minute later Cookstown were reduced to ten men when Ian Hutchinson was sent to the sin bin for his second green card.

But it was just too much for a Bann comeback and, the Kirk was heading back to Cookstown.

After the game Cookstown captain Barbour said, “It wasn’t a great final but I think we just edged it and deserved it overall. We tried to get them on the counter attack as they were starting to come more into the game.

“We have been working hard on our finishing and we have worked on that corner as well and, thankfully it paid off. I am just delighted for everyone, as there may be a few guys, including myself, making their last appearance in the cup final.”

Banbridge: G. Lennox, Stephen Forbes, Scott Forbes, J. Moffett, D. Reay, C. Kelly, B. McCandless, S. Dowds, O. Magee, H. McShane, C. Dowds, P Brown, R. McCandless, S. McCandless, D. Ward, D. Carlisle, C. Kelly.

Cookstown: I. Hughes, G. Irwin, I. Hutchinson, E. Butler, G. Cuddy, I. Sloan, A. Barbour, I. Steen, M. Crooks, D. Best, C. Donaldson, D. Ames, G. Allen, T. Smyth, K. Black, S. Sloan

Umpires: C.Hutchinson, D Clarke