Thrilling finish sees Rock fall just short

THREE Rock Rovers hammered Instonians 9-1 at Grange Road in their final game of the Men’s EY Hockey League, but the emphatic result was not enough to see them overhaul Banbridge who clinched the title on goal difference.

It was the Grange Road side’s 11th successive win and saw them end the regular season level on points with Bann in what was a nailbiting end to the campaign.

Indeed, it was a fraught final day of the season with anxious checks of smart phones throughout the game as Rovers sought to overhaul the long-time leaders.

Three Rock were led out for the match by the club’s Rockets, Ireland’s first Parahockey team for people with special needs who will represent the country at August’s European Championships.

From the outset, Rovers needed to outscore Bann by six goals and they got off to the perfect start with Mitch Darling scoring inside two minutes.

Kevin Mullins forced home a second in the seventh minute and a Jody Hosking strike followed seconds later – a brilliant reverse stick effort – to build a 3-0 lead with just eight minutes gone.

Luke Madeley’s drag-flick accounted for the fourth goal before Conor Empey slammed in the fifth on the half-hour mark after the ball bounced fortuitously off umpire Robert Johnston.

Another Madeley drag made it 6-0 at the break. All the while, goals were raining down at Banbridge as they built up a 3-0 lead against Railway Union, subsequently increasing the Rovers’ requirement.

Madeley completed his hat-trick before Ross Canning coolly slotted home from close range for 8-0 by the end of the third quarter while Banbridge extended their lead to 5-1.

At this stage, 10 goals was the target, but the killer blow to Rovers’ title hopes arrived when William Robinson scored from Instonian’s only corner.

Mullins grabbed a second goal with time running out, but Rovers finished three goals short of Banbridge, who won out 6-1 in their closing match, ultimately landing the title and a place in the Euro Hockey League next season.

Rovers will now look to bounce back next Saturday in the Champions Trophy semi-final when they face reigning champions Lisnagarvey, looking to repeat their January 3-1 win in the league.

Victory here could earn them a place in the final and also a berth in Europe that would add to the national indoor title they won earlier this term.