Cork native Adam Pritchard played a key role in helping Pembroke Wanderers retain their Irish Hockey League title in style – then had to exit the celebrations before they’d even fully began, as exam pressures took hold.
Pritchard’s battle of the pacemen with Timmy Cockram was one of the highlights of Pembroke’s 4-1 victory over the northerners, but an impending exam this morning – the Aherla man is a neuroscience masters student in Trinity – means he must wait to savour the moment.
Garvey's Jason Lynch runs into Pembroke's Ronan Gormley. Picture: Adrian Boehm
While no Munster side had come within an ass’s roar of the semi-finals of this tournament, there was plenty of reason for Bandon Grammar School in particular to feel some pride.
Four of their alumni contested Irish hockey’s showpiece, with Pritchard lining out alongside twins Conor and David Harte for Pembroke, while Jason Lynch donned ‘Garvey colours.
Conor Harte had been the subject of one of numerous talking points during two amazing semi-finals, which saw 20 goals produced as both games went to silver goal extra time.
Pembroke raced into a 4-0 lead inside 25 minutes against Glenanne, only to be pegged back to 4-4 by full-time, the with equaliser given as a Jonathan Kane touch that only umpire Chris McConkey appeared to see, leaving even the player himself bemused.
There was even more debate about Pembroke’s extra-time winner which wrecked Irish Senior Cup champions Glens’ dreams of a national double. Harte’s short corner sweep failed to strike the backboard as the first shot, but the goal was given amid ugly scenes surrounding the umpires and technical bench.
But the best was saved ‘til last, as Lisnagarvey and Corinthian shared 11 goals in a breathtaking, free-flowing encounter that was without the needle and tension of its predecessor, with ‘Garvey edging it 6-5.
It was Alan Sothern who stole the show on the scoreboard today though, grabbing a hat-trick as Pembroke took their chances more adroitly.
‘Garvey nine short corners but bar Timmy Cockram’s early equaliser, they couldn’t get past some body-on-the-line defending and a string of excellent David Harte saves.
Sothern struck in the first and third quarters with slick set-pieces, sandwiched by a Maurice Elliott tap-in, before Sothern made it safe from play after Patrick Good had done brilliantly to retrieve what seemed to be a lost cause.
For the full set of Adrian Boehm’s pics from Pembroke vs Lisnagarvey, click here. For a more detailed report of the final, click here.
Post Author:
alangood
14 Replies to “Exam pressures curtail Pritchard’s celebrations”
While I agree that Pembroke were the better team in the final, I don’t think I’d say Alan Sothern stole the show. Scoring a hat-trick is nothing to be scoffed at, I’m not taking that away from him, but I have seen him in much better form – he put a penalty stroke yards wide too. Nothing personal, but I’d say man of the match was Maurice Elliott.
Al, i agree with some of that but are you kidding? look at the saves Harte made were unreal, has to be man of the match
As I mentioned in another post, I wasn’t actually at the IHL finals, so was relying on info I was given. I hadn’t even realised Sothern missed a stroke until I looked at The Hook there. Sorry for the sloppiness, it’s been a long season and my college finals begin in the morning so haven’t really had my eye on the ball, so to speak!
Sothern was top class,Harte was in great form also,the two stand out players of the weekend by far.
I watched the 2 mens IHL semi finals and final last weekend and was disgusted at the behaviour of both Glenanne and Pembroke. In the game between the 2 teams the players bitched and moaned at ever decision the umpires gave. I can only conclude that both teams are deliberately
coached to question the umpires decision. In contrast the 2nd semi final
was a joy to watch as it had none of the bickering that marred the first semi, and both teams got on with the game whatever the decision. They were
a credit to their clubs. When it came to the final, Pembroke were at it again. Every time Lisnagarvey were awarded a penalty corner, Pembroke players questioned the decision, delaying the game by up to 4 mins, in an attempt to slow the ‘Garvey momentum. Pembroke deserved to win, but do they need to lower themselves to such unsportsmanlike behaviour ? It is a sad state of affairs when a team with so many internationals carry on this way. It is even sadder when one realises that the coach is an assistant Irish coach. Is this what we can expect from an Irish team? In conclusion, the IHA and the IHUA need to address this urgently. In tandem, perhaps both the clubs in question might address their behaviour.
I think both those teams are very competitive & IHL has become the most important trophy in the calendar, whoever won their semi was going to be favourite for the title so understand that they were so wound up – didn’t think it was that bad in comparison to some of the stuff you’d see in Munster league games.
In fairness to the refs, they used the green card when these issues arose & sent off the culprits for a few minutes. Also the game is so fast, it’s very hard for them to get every decision right, particularly when shorts are involved, which can up the ante as well.
Overall the men’s tournament was a fabulous spectacle – that game was amazing & the indiscipline didn’t take from it.
I watched this game from close to the bench & some of the comments & behaviour directed towards the umpires/bench at the end is the worst I have ever witnessed. Also, at least one red card was issued in the aftermath.
Was on the far side so wouldn’t have seen that at the end…
Unfortunatly poor umpiring leads to behaviour that people may not like to witness. But I have yet to see an umpire banned for poor performances.
Officials seemed to demand respect without actually earning it now.
This is life get over it
In what was otherwise a tremenduous day of hockey at Grange Rd for the Irish Hockey League finals it was ruined by the complete ineptitude displayed by the umpires in awarding a winning goal to Pembroke in their tie with Glenanne in their semi-final tie. For everyone in the ground that knew anything about hockey knew the goal could not stand as the first strike on goal from a penalty corner hit the net well above the backboard.
One would have to wonder how two umpires (supposedly working as a team) could not between them bring themselves to the right decision. One would think that where a fundamental rule of the game is broken that the decision could be reversed. If rugby parlance had been adopted by the engaged umpire, perhaps in asking “is there any reason not to award this goal” the sitiuation could have been avoided.
To walk off the pitch and sit in the back of the dugout was either arrogant or just down right stubborn. Someone needs to understand that the game is for players, and is not the preserve of umpires or administrators. To spend an entire year giving of your all in training and competition to be cut down by such a decision is galling.
The hockey umpires association need to review their practices in order to ensure such an outcome never happens again. We are frequently told that Irish umpires are well respected throughout the world. Saturdays’s debacle has done the entire association a great dis-service.
Whilst it appears an error was made in the decision a large group of players surrounding the umpire and roaring in his face was not conducive to the correct resolution of the situation. I personally thought it had touched Ned’s foot on the slip right and I thought this was why the Glens were so annoyed. If the captain had calmly and rationally approached the umpire and explained what he thought was wrong and asked him to consult I am sure he would have and I think the correct decision might have been made. I know the situation was tense and emotions high given the tremendous fightback to 4-4 but it doesn’t excuse the players dealing with the umpire in the correct manner.
As a previous poster has highlighted group charging the umpire and challenging every decision seems to be a deliberate tactic by the teams and it backfired spectacularly on Saturday. Dealing witch the umpires in a calmer more courteous manner might be a more efficient tactic because yes umpires are human too and probably react negatively to having a group of people roar in their faces.
Having said all that the umpires have probably drawn it on themselves by putting up with this behaviour for too long. Rugby players know not to challenge the refs authority and always engage properly. If the umpires dished out cards for the abuse they receive it might get the message across.
It was a shame that the incident spoiled the game because it had been excellent entertainment and had top quality play on both sides.
In the interest of fairness it should also be noted that one of the Glananne “goals” should not have been awarded as no one touchesd the ball in the circle – either defenders or attackers.
In fact the Glenanne captain did approach the disengaged umpire who quite clearly indicated that he knew that the decision was wrong. While it is no excuse for the behaviour of the players towards the umpires the players only ‘surrounded the umpires’ when they walked from the pitch content with their decision.
The fact of the matter is that it was the inability of the two umpires to come to a correct decison that was the touchpaper for the situation that ensued. It was afterall a fundamental error and one that could have easily been rectified With umpires manager on radio Mike and 2 on the field of play there is no way that the incident should have been allowed to escalate.
Glenanne will have learned a costly lesson and is one they must take heed of. As you rightly state if the situation had been handled more courteously I feel sure the correct decision would have been finally arrived at.
In rugby, you make a mess as a Ref you generally DONOT get big matches if you consistantly are not upto the mark. I habve been to many a ckub inal and seen them on tv and it is really at international level you get the yes sir no sir attitude as they are the best.
Players respect people who have earned respect by their actions not by the fact they have put on a yellow jersey
It is not worh getting into a slanging match on a forum but poor, inconsistant umpiring in this match was a large factor in what happened.
umpire have brought this on themselves as I would feel they are aloof, do not want to engagae and dealing with them in a polite manner has I have found have had no effect. In one case I have heard that the captain of the team asked quietly why a decision had been give, ‘because I gave it’ and when they asked for the umpire to refer to the other umpire they got a no and no other explanation. This led to a match that was competetive and interesting to become a bad tempered affair, good manners has to go both ways.
Both side are at fault but as ever it is the players who get,and generally take the blame.
Umpiring has to improve same as the players skills have to improve and actuallky respecting each other has to seen.
I see very little respect for players and coaches from authority in this sport.
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While I agree that Pembroke were the better team in the final, I don’t think I’d say Alan Sothern stole the show. Scoring a hat-trick is nothing to be scoffed at, I’m not taking that away from him, but I have seen him in much better form – he put a penalty stroke yards wide too. Nothing personal, but I’d say man of the match was Maurice Elliott.
Al, i agree with some of that but are you kidding? look at the saves Harte made were unreal, has to be man of the match
As I mentioned in another post, I wasn’t actually at the IHL finals, so was relying on info I was given. I hadn’t even realised Sothern missed a stroke until I looked at The Hook there. Sorry for the sloppiness, it’s been a long season and my college finals begin in the morning so haven’t really had my eye on the ball, so to speak!
Sothern was top class,Harte was in great form also,the two stand out players of the weekend by far.
I watched the 2 mens IHL semi finals and final last weekend and was disgusted at the behaviour of both Glenanne and Pembroke. In the game between the 2 teams the players bitched and moaned at ever decision the umpires gave. I can only conclude that both teams are deliberately
coached to question the umpires decision. In contrast the 2nd semi final
was a joy to watch as it had none of the bickering that marred the first semi, and both teams got on with the game whatever the decision. They were
a credit to their clubs. When it came to the final, Pembroke were at it again. Every time Lisnagarvey were awarded a penalty corner, Pembroke players questioned the decision, delaying the game by up to 4 mins, in an attempt to slow the ‘Garvey momentum. Pembroke deserved to win, but do they need to lower themselves to such unsportsmanlike behaviour ? It is a sad state of affairs when a team with so many internationals carry on this way. It is even sadder when one realises that the coach is an assistant Irish coach. Is this what we can expect from an Irish team? In conclusion, the IHA and the IHUA need to address this urgently. In tandem, perhaps both the clubs in question might address their behaviour.
I think both those teams are very competitive & IHL has become the most important trophy in the calendar, whoever won their semi was going to be favourite for the title so understand that they were so wound up – didn’t think it was that bad in comparison to some of the stuff you’d see in Munster league games.
In fairness to the refs, they used the green card when these issues arose & sent off the culprits for a few minutes. Also the game is so fast, it’s very hard for them to get every decision right, particularly when shorts are involved, which can up the ante as well.
Overall the men’s tournament was a fabulous spectacle – that game was amazing & the indiscipline didn’t take from it.
I watched this game from close to the bench & some of the comments & behaviour directed towards the umpires/bench at the end is the worst I have ever witnessed. Also, at least one red card was issued in the aftermath.
Was on the far side so wouldn’t have seen that at the end…
Unfortunatly poor umpiring leads to behaviour that people may not like to witness. But I have yet to see an umpire banned for poor performances.
Officials seemed to demand respect without actually earning it now.
This is life get over it
In what was otherwise a tremenduous day of hockey at Grange Rd for the Irish Hockey League finals it was ruined by the complete ineptitude displayed by the umpires in awarding a winning goal to Pembroke in their tie with Glenanne in their semi-final tie. For everyone in the ground that knew anything about hockey knew the goal could not stand as the first strike on goal from a penalty corner hit the net well above the backboard.
One would have to wonder how two umpires (supposedly working as a team) could not between them bring themselves to the right decision. One would think that where a fundamental rule of the game is broken that the decision could be reversed. If rugby parlance had been adopted by the engaged umpire, perhaps in asking “is there any reason not to award this goal” the sitiuation could have been avoided.
To walk off the pitch and sit in the back of the dugout was either arrogant or just down right stubborn. Someone needs to understand that the game is for players, and is not the preserve of umpires or administrators. To spend an entire year giving of your all in training and competition to be cut down by such a decision is galling.
The hockey umpires association need to review their practices in order to ensure such an outcome never happens again. We are frequently told that Irish umpires are well respected throughout the world. Saturdays’s debacle has done the entire association a great dis-service.
Whilst it appears an error was made in the decision a large group of players surrounding the umpire and roaring in his face was not conducive to the correct resolution of the situation. I personally thought it had touched Ned’s foot on the slip right and I thought this was why the Glens were so annoyed. If the captain had calmly and rationally approached the umpire and explained what he thought was wrong and asked him to consult I am sure he would have and I think the correct decision might have been made. I know the situation was tense and emotions high given the tremendous fightback to 4-4 but it doesn’t excuse the players dealing with the umpire in the correct manner.
As a previous poster has highlighted group charging the umpire and challenging every decision seems to be a deliberate tactic by the teams and it backfired spectacularly on Saturday. Dealing witch the umpires in a calmer more courteous manner might be a more efficient tactic because yes umpires are human too and probably react negatively to having a group of people roar in their faces.
Having said all that the umpires have probably drawn it on themselves by putting up with this behaviour for too long. Rugby players know not to challenge the refs authority and always engage properly. If the umpires dished out cards for the abuse they receive it might get the message across.
It was a shame that the incident spoiled the game because it had been excellent entertainment and had top quality play on both sides.
In the interest of fairness it should also be noted that one of the Glananne “goals” should not have been awarded as no one touchesd the ball in the circle – either defenders or attackers.
In fact the Glenanne captain did approach the disengaged umpire who quite clearly indicated that he knew that the decision was wrong. While it is no excuse for the behaviour of the players towards the umpires the players only ‘surrounded the umpires’ when they walked from the pitch content with their decision.
The fact of the matter is that it was the inability of the two umpires to come to a correct decison that was the touchpaper for the situation that ensued. It was afterall a fundamental error and one that could have easily been rectified With umpires manager on radio Mike and 2 on the field of play there is no way that the incident should have been allowed to escalate.
Glenanne will have learned a costly lesson and is one they must take heed of. As you rightly state if the situation had been handled more courteously I feel sure the correct decision would have been finally arrived at.
In rugby, you make a mess as a Ref you generally DONOT get big matches if you consistantly are not upto the mark. I habve been to many a ckub inal and seen them on tv and it is really at international level you get the yes sir no sir attitude as they are the best.
Players respect people who have earned respect by their actions not by the fact they have put on a yellow jersey
It is not worh getting into a slanging match on a forum but poor, inconsistant umpiring in this match was a large factor in what happened.
umpire have brought this on themselves as I would feel they are aloof, do not want to engagae and dealing with them in a polite manner has I have found have had no effect. In one case I have heard that the captain of the team asked quietly why a decision had been give, ‘because I gave it’ and when they asked for the umpire to refer to the other umpire they got a no and no other explanation. This led to a match that was competetive and interesting to become a bad tempered affair, good manners has to go both ways.
Both side are at fault but as ever it is the players who get,and generally take the blame.
Umpiring has to improve same as the players skills have to improve and actuallky respecting each other has to seen.
I see very little respect for players and coaches from authority in this sport.