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Irish Hockey

OFTEN the Powerade Kirk Cup final falls a bit flat and fails to live up to the prematch hype.

Not this year though, Instonians and Lisnagarvey serving up a true classic enjoyed by a near record gate enduring truly abysmal weather conditions.

In the end Instonians claimed their first Kirk Cup win in 11 seasons but only after the cruel bashing of penalty strokes, the sides having remained deadlocked after extra-time at 2-2.

It was impossible to separate two well drilled sides during the fluent 70 minutes of normal time which yielded four goals and extra time in which numerous clear cut chances abounded.

It was ultimately Inst keeper Nigel Skillen who was the difference between success and failure for his team. He produced a wonder save from Lisnagarvey's Ivan Steen a blockbuster after 18 minutes stretching high to his right to save one-handed with his stick.

Twice more in normal time and three times in extra-time, notably from Steen and Kevin Lunn, Skillen came to his side's rescue.

After a tentative opening Inst took the lead from their first penalty corner after eight minutes when the ball was cleverly switched left to veteran skipper Neil Cooke who slammed home from the top of the circle.

This was the signal for Lisnagarvey to awake from their slumbers. They showed their intent on 16 minutes when Johnny Bloomfield squeezed his shot wide.

Skillen was then Inst's saviour but with Garvey playing with such zest an equaliser was inevitable and it duly arrived after 27 minutes.

Mark Raphael was the architect running virtually unchallenged from the halfway line before squaring to Johnny Bloomfield who angled the ball past Skillen.

It was no more than 'Garvey deserved and more was to come four minutes after the break when Ivan Steen drilled a pinpoint pass to Timmy Cockram and Ulster's leading goalcorer stabbed the ball in at the back post.

'Garvey were in total control at this stage but were soon to become authors of their own downfall conceding a sloppy 45th minute equaliser.

Cooke's speculative run into the circle wasn't dealt with and he found an unmarked Andrew Cousins who had more time and space than he could ever have dreamt of as he angled home past a static Neil Gallagher.

The defences particularly Cooke for Instonians and Stephen Arbuthnot for 'Garvey were well marshalled in the closing quarter as clear cut chances were at a premium.

Normal time ended at two each and as the game went into extra time there was no holding back as both sides went at it hammer and tong for a golden goal winner.

Garvey squandered a penalty corner whilst Skillen was in herculean form that was to earn him man of the match.

At the other end Mark Irwin and Stephen Reid had chances but these were negated by Lutton and then Gallagher.

Inst scored all five of their penalty strokes in meticulous fashion while Timmy Cockram's effort for Lisnagarvey was saved by hero Skillen to give Neil Cooke the honour of lifting the Powerade Kirk Cup from Ulster Branch President Kenny Lee.

INSTONIANS: Nigel Skillen, Mark Wainwright, Stephen Reid, Tim Taylor, Andrew Cousins, Clarke Kennedy, Mark Irwin, Gavin Currie, Julian Lewis, Michael Watt, Neil Cooke, Anthony Lewis, Richard Lee, Mark Gleghorne, Michael Adams, Andrew Seay.

LISNAGARVEY: Neil Gallagher, Brian Waring, Jonny Bell, Jonathan Bloomfield, Ivan Steen, Mark Robinson, Cameron Black, Kevin Lunn, Errol Lutton, Mark Raphael, Timmy Cockram, Stephen Artbuthnot, Philip Stirling, Mark Lappin, David Williamson, Michael Purcell.

Umpires: Chris McConkey, David Stewart.

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