Glens share the spoils in their opener
DEFENDING EY Hockey League regular season champions Glenanne had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the new campaign away to Cork Church of Ireland in Garryduff on Saturday.
The Tallaght side took the lead when Shannon Boucher finished off a corner and they had chances to enlarge their advantage.
Both Boucher and new German signing Cedric Jakobi went close with reverse strikes, while Eddie O’Malley and Adam Clayton were also unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
They were openings that the visitors could well have done with converting as Cork duly punished them when Philip Brownlow struck in the final quarter.
“It was a bit of a cagey affair in the first half,” recalled Glenanne manager Joe Brennan. “We’ll probably be disappointed that we didn’t come away with the win especially having had the lion’s share of the chances and going 1-0 up.
“Still, it’s a tough place to go and Cork are a much improved side. They’re very organised and they’re going to be very difficult to beat,” he insisted.
Brennan has made a few changes to his squad which captured the EY Hockey League title last season.
Having lost the services of Ireland international Shane O’Donoghue to Belgium outfit KHC Dragons, he has signed up Jakobi, South African Brad Venter and Jonny McCormack from Avoca.
Next up for this Glenanne outfit will be a trip to Strathearn on Saturday to face an Annadale outfit that was on the receiving end of a 6-2 rout by Monkstown.
ON ANOTHER note, Glenanne player David Keogh has taken charge of the Glenanne Women’s Division One side who will start their season with a match against Rathgar this weekend.
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