Three Rock Rovers bridged a 40-year gap to win the men’s Irish Senior Cup at Belfield yesterday, seeing off Pembroke Wanderers on penalty strokes.
Conor Harte’s penalty corner strike had Pembroke, victors over Lisnagarvey in the last four, in front but Huub de With teed up Mitch Darling for a classy equaliser before Peter Blakeney fired Rovers into the lead from a rescued short corner.
Harte’s crash ball picked out Tim Hill to equalise for Pembroke with five minutes to go but Rovers – who had stunned holders Monkstown 4-0 in Saturday’s semi-final – scored all their penalty strokes to win the shootout 5-4. It was Three Rock’s first title since 1974, when they beat Cork C of I 2-1 in the decider.
UCD won their second title in three years as Irish international forward duo Anna O’Flanagan and Nikki Evans did all the damage. They combined for three goals in the nervy 3-2 win over Railway Union in the semis, before netting one each in the second half of a 2-0 final victory over Pembroke Wanderers.
Underdogs Pembroke, who had defeated Lurgan on penalty strokes following a scoreless semi-final on Saturday, defended adroitly but struggled to create anything against the superior students.
Harte’s crash ball picked out Tim Hill to equalise for Pembroke with five minutes to go but Rovers – who had stunned holders Monkstown 4-0 in Saturday’s semi-final – scored all their penalty strokes to win the shootout 5-4. It was Three Rock’s first title since 1974, when they beat Cork C of I 2-1 in the decider.
UCD won their second title in three years as Irish international forward duo Anna O’Flanagan and Nikki Evans did all the damage. They combined for three goals in the nervy 3-2 win over Railway Union in the semis, before netting one each in the second half of a 2-0 final victory over Pembroke Wanderers.
Underdogs Pembroke, who had defeated Lurgan on penalty strokes following a scoreless semi-final on Saturday, defended adroitly but struggled to create anything against the superior students.