Bangor 1 v 2 Annadale

BANGOR LOSE IN KIRK CUP SEMI FINAL

Bangor missed out on a place in the Kirk Cup final because of a last minute goal on Sunday but the club can reflect on a much more devastating loss than that to Annadale.
In the early hours of Thursday morning of last week 25-year-old Gareth Callender died suddenly at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and what should have been the club's biggest weekend of the year suddenly looked unimportant.
The popular and extremely talented young man will be sorely missed by everyone at the club and all members would wish to extend their deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
All Bangor's games were cancelled on Saturday as a mark of respect and the majority of the club attended Gareth's funeral that morning. One of his closest friends in the club Michael Harte read a passage from the Bible during the service.
Although Gareth had been ill for some time, many people were taken by surprise by the suddenness of his death. He had been an important part of the first eleven for a number of years before his illness and even when he stopped playing he found time to resurrect the youth coaching at the club and help get dozens of young people involved in the game. That was the kind of positive young man Gareth was.
The Sportsman's Ball on Saturday evening also became a much quieter affair with a minute's silence being observed in Gareth's memory. There was another tribute to Gareth before Sunday's semi final which was impeccably observed by both teams and the sizable crowd.
Sunday's game was particularly difficult for those closest to Gareth but everyone involved with the first eleven can be proud of the dignity shown and performance they gave in Banbridge. They team were roared on by an incredibly vocal support determined to help give Bangor every backing possible and they watched their side respond in spades.
Never before have Bangor pushed Annadale so close and it was only in added on time from a penalty corner that the dream finally ended when set piece expert Ian Hamilton fired home to make it 2-1 and take the Belfast team through to the Boxing Day final.
Bangor had started the slower in the first period and goalkeeper John Tormey was called upon to make a few early saves as Annadale looked like over-running the Seasiders. Gradually Bangor got a foothold in the game and through Dowie Holley and Mark Daniel, both newly called into the senior Ulster side, they began to match Annadale in territory and possession.
But still Annadale pressed and Bangor had their first let off when Neil Hamilton hit the crossbar with a deflection from a penalty corner. The luck next swung Annadale's way when Jamie McAuley seemed to have a simple tap-in only for an unforeseen bobble to prevent him giving Bangor the lead.
Shortly before the break Annadale took the lead their first half performance probably merited. A swift attack down the right wing caused problems for the stretched Bangor defence and somewhat fortuitously the ball popped out for Stephen Redpath to finish easily on his reverse side.
Coach Johnny Todd's half time team talk galvanised his troops and there was no doubt from the neutrals that Bangor dominated the second period. One early scare was averted when Gareth Kidd recovered to make a diving goal-line save and ensure Bangor didn't fall two goals behind.
Bangor's dangerman was Daniel and the pacy forward stretched the Anndale defence all afternoon with his quicksilver running into the channels. It was fitting when he grabbed the goal that brought Bangor level.
Simon Hunter chased a loose ball down on the left wing and his cross caused panic in the Annadale circle with goalkeeper Johnny Moore kicking the ball into his own defender, allowing Daniel the opportunity to turn the ball in at waist height.
Bangor then had several chances to take the lead but couldn't make their superiority tell. First a typically lung-busting run from Chris Campbell ended with a well struck reverse stick shot that Moore had to block and the Annadale goalkeeper again came to his side's rescue with a save from McAuley.
In the final minutes Bangor kept pressing forward and when caught out on the counter attack they gave away a penalty corner that was to give Hamilton the chance to book Annadale their place in the final.
This Saturday Bangor have no game because of the call-ups of Holley and Daniel to the Ulster squad. Everyone wishes them well in their first senior inter-provincial tournament.