HOCKEY/IRISH SENIOR CUP FINAL/Pembroke Wanderers 3 Monkstown 0:MONKSTOWN'S giant-killing exploits in the Irish Senior Cup finally perished at Belfield on Saturday at the hands of an accomplished Pembroke side that were determined to keep this final within their control. With a balanced performance they did just that against a team that often threatened but never quite got the few breaks that might have allowed this match turn their way.
Indeed, if any of the two received an early opening it was Pembroke, who got off to the perfect start within three minutes of the start. With Monkstown in possession deep in their defence, John McInroy's pressure picked up a loose pass on his reverse stick side and he burst straight into the circle. With just Davy Fitzgerald in goal to beat and the defence scrambling, McInroy kept his cool and lifted the ball into the far corner for 1-0.
It was just what the favourites needed to settle nerves, and from there Pembroke continued to dominate possession and play the more strategic game.
Monkstown, with 16-year-old Stephen Cole in midfield as well as two 17-year-olds on the bench, were the less experienced side, and although Pembroke had the majority of ball, Monkstown, who were often breaking dangerously, netted just before half-time through Gareth Watkins, only to be denied by the umpire's whistle.
To that point there had been no short corners and few circle penetrations, but it wasn't long into the second half that Pembroke's second goal arrived. It came from a Monkstown attack that broke down outside the circle in the right-back position.
A swift counter-attack up the right allowed Gordon Elliott rise a snap shot at goalkeeper Fitzgerald. The save on 44 minutes bounced the ball out high, resulting in the first short corner, which Ronan Gormley duly converted from a direct, knee-high flick.
While Monkstown had plenty of time to play their way back in, and a few yellow cards gifted them with a man advantage, Pembroke kept their defensive shape, with Tim Lewis to the fore, as Monkstown looked for openings.
Finally, on 67 minutes a tidy piece of stick-work from Alan Giles on the right of the circle created some space for Craig Fulton to wrap up the match. His effort from close in was followed by a diving McInroy but the end result, if not the final goal scorer, was in no doubt at 3-0 and just three minutes remaining.
It leaves Pembroke as worthy winners of the trophy for the second time since 2000 and Monkstown still looking for the elusive win to bridge the gap since they last won in 1914.
PEMBROKE: N Henderson, A Giles, R Gormley, S Lowrie, T Lewis, C Kelly, P Conlon, S Loughrey, J McInroy, J Sherriff, A Sothern. Rolling subs: C Fulton, G Elliott, C Wilson.
MONKSTOWN: D Fitzgerald, G Groves, N Dee, F Lee, S Cole, F Jaros, B Groves, I Horsfield, A Barrett, G Watkins, I Allen. Rolling subs: E O'Connor, A Lewis, S Groves.
Umpires: G Conn, W McCully
