MEN'S HOCKEY IRISH SENIOR CUP FINAL Pembroke Wanderers 6 Cookstown 0: PEMBROKE PRODUCED the most comprehensive victory in the open era of the Irish Senior Cup as they beat Ulster champions Cookstown 6-0 at Belfield yesterday, taking the opportunity to let their hockey do the talking after a week of off-field controversy.
Indeed, not since 1921 when the now defunct Royal Hibernians beat Queen’s University 9-0 has a final been so one-sided.
The build-up to the game had been mired in the eligibility issue concerning Vaughan Erasmus.
The situation came to public attention last Thursday when the Irish Hockey Association issued a statement stating that Erasmus had played in the quarter-final while ineligible due to this “miscommunication” between the IHA and the clubs in question.
As for the game, Pembroke’s initial foundations were built on a stern defensive effort as Cookstown made the early running.
Superb tackling from Colin Kelly and Conor Harte, though, meant the Tyrone side was denied any shooting opportunities. And with that side of the game intact, the trio of international talent Alan Sothern, Justin Sherriff and Gordon Elliott up front were always likely to prosper.
Elliott snapped up the first chance in the 19th minute, sending Ian Hughes the wrong way after Paddy Conlon’s baseline rummaging created the chance.
Maurice Elliott then doubled the advantage. His reverse-side trap flummoxed Hughes and Ian Hutchinson alike to set up an easy finish.
Gordon Elliott’s tidy finish made it 3-0 just after the break before Sherriff’s played in Elliott down the left flank. His pin-point cross found the sliding Paddy Conlon for a simple tap-in.
Sherriff was superb throughout and has been a rejuvenating force for the Serpentine Avenue club this term. His goal, in the 60th minute, therefore capped his performance, as he slammed the ball home from the top of the circle. Conlon then played in Alan Sothern for an incredible 56th goal of the season to complete the rout.
Elsewhere, UCD retained their Division One status with a 4-2 win over Bray in the promotion/relegation playoff thanks to braces from Robbie McFarlane and Tadhg Walsh-Peelo.
COOKSTOWN: Ian Hughes, Ian Hutchinson (capt), Gareth Cuddy, Ewan Butler, Andrew Barbour, Ivan Steen, David Best, Colin Donaldson, David Ames, Stuart Smyth, Keith Black. Subs: Stephen Cuddy, Mark Crooks, Greg Allen, Timmy Smyth, Stephen Sloan.
PEMBROKE WANDERERS: David Harte, Ronan Gormley, Conor Harte, Gordon Elliott,, Colin Kelly, Paddy Conlon, Stuart Loughrey, Justin Sherriff, Alan Sothern, Tim Lewis. Subs: Craig Fulton, Maurice Elliott, Michael O'Connor, Scott Lowrie, Simon Thornton.
