Madeley helps fire Rock to 2018 Irish Senior Cup
By Stephen Findlater
THREE Rock Rovers’ penalty corner machine helped see them land the Irish Senior Cup for the 11th time as Luke Madeley struck three times from the set piece to see off Pembroke 5-2 at Belfield, writes Stephen Findlater.
This followed up on their 5-1 Saturday win, from last week, against Glenanne in the semi-final, making it their fifth trophy of the campaign already, adding to Mills Cup, Neville Cup, National Indoor Trophy and EuroHockey Challenge II crowns.
Three Rock Rovers celebrate winning the Irish Senior Cup after beating Pembroke in the final
It might have been more comfortable but for Mark Ingram producing a series of good saves between the posts that kept them in the game until the closing 10 minutes.
Alternatively, though, Pembroke will rue a disallowed goal to make it 3-3 with the game in the balance when Alan Sothern’s ball across looked set to dribble over the line until Tim Hill tipped in with his back-stick.
It was initially awarded by the nearer umpire Russell Donaldson before getting a message via radio from the far end. The video afterward – and the lack of Pembroke complaints on-pitch – suggested the right call was reached.
It was a pivotal moment. Six minutes later, Rovers got the game-breaking goal when John Mullins deflected in another corner to put them out of range.
Early on, Pembroke – without the services of Harry Spain who was in a sling in the wake of the semi-final win at Lisnagarvey – showed nerves in defence in the first seconds with Kevin Mullins firing wide from a simple interception while Mitch Darling stung Ingram’s pads.
Rovers presented Sothern with a gift from a clearance down his throat on the left of the circle but his reverse went inches wide.
Error-strewn start
It was an error-strewn start which led to many chances and Three Rock should have gone in front when Harry Morris had a lot of the goal to aim at, but slapped off course from a Darling pull-back.
As it was, Rovers went in front in the 14th minute with Madeley shooting home the first corner at the second attempt. Three minutes later, he went direct to make it 2-0 and there was a danger of them running away with the game.
But, in Kirk Shimmins, Pembroke have a midfield machine capable of serious inspiration and he produced a glorious run down the left wing before flicking into the top corner from a near impossible angle.
And they got back on level terms from their second corner via Sothern’s low drag-flick only to see Three Rock returned to the front within two minutes.
Again, it was a corner with Madeley going down the stick side for 3-2 and his hat trick.
Stunning low save
Ingram made a stunning low save from Kevin Mullins at close quarters as Pembroke hung in the contest and should have had their leveller in the 53rd minute but for the rogue backstick.
Rovers took the reprieve with open arms with Mullins deflecting in their seventh corner from Jody Hosking’s slap. A trio of chances to make it safer were spurned, Ingram sliding out to block Ben Walker one-on-one and intercepting a Daragh Walsh cross key.
When he departed for an extra outfielder, Ross Canning clipped in the fifth into an open net and Rovers had the title wrapped up.
Looking back on the weekend, Three Rock coach Niall Denham said: “The two scorelines probably don’t reflect the full balance of play, but you have to be happy when you score 10 goals in a weekend.
“We probably rode our luck a little against Glenanne in the second half after a good first half display.
“I think we were in a little bit more control today. We are in a good place, the squad is fit and playing well and all we can do is qualify for the final four and then focus on trying to retain the national title.
“The confidence we take from this can only stand us in good stead,” he insisted.
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