Glenanne into semis of Senior Cup

A DRAMATIC late goal from Glenanne’s mens first team earned them a 2-1 victory over Lisnagarvey in the Irish Senior Cup.

A goal in the closing stages from Johnny McCormack at the far post saw Glens snatch a nail-biting win as they caused wild scenes among supporters and players as they progressed to the semi-final.

The match was set up to be a classic with good support from both clubs on a sunny day in Grange Road.

The Irish Senior Cup is the oldest hockey cup competition in the world and both teams have history in the tournament-favourites Lisnagarvey having won the last two editions and Glenanne having won it 3 times in 2000’s.

Both teams fashioning some good build up and interplay but unable to find the circle penetration due to good defending on both sides.

Ten minutes into quarter two and Glenanne won the first penalty corner of the game which came to nothing.

Five minutes later ‘Garvey win their first penalty corner.

It was well run down the Glens 1st runner, and the boys in green broke on the counter-attack with three decisive passes reach captain Brad Venter who slapped the ball hard and low towards the bottom left corner of the goal.

Only for ‘Garvey and Irish international goalkeeper James Milliken to pull off an excellent save and the sides went in all square at the interval.

In the third quarter, Glenanne were reduced to 10 men for five minutes after a yellow card for Sam O’Connor.

Lisnagarvey took numerical advantage to earn a penalty corner of their own 11 minutes in to the quarter and take the lead from a good finish from Ollie Kidd, 1-0 to the visitors and Glenanne with a mountain to climb.

Despite being back to 11 players Lisnagarvey had a number of penalty corners which Glenanne defended well to ensure the scores stay as they were and give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

Both teams tradeed cards, Lisnagarvey with a green card and a yellow card to Gary Shaw.

In the final quarter, a Glenanne penalty corner is broken down, but finds Brynn Cleak, Glenanne’s Namibian international on top circle.

He passes to Shane O’Donoghue who puts a reverse-stick into the top right corner to make it 1-1 and all to play for with eight mins to go.

Glenanne win another penalty corner, well saved by Milliken again.

However from the resulting long corner, Glens force Milliken into a save but the ball bobbles free, finding Johnny McCormack on the far post to score from less than a yard with under a minute to go and cause pandemonious scenes on and off the pitch!

The boys in green manage to weather the last barrage from Lisnagarvey to secure a memorable win in dramatic fashion. 2-1 it ended in Grange Road with Glenanne now set to play Monkstown in the semi-final.