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BANGOR CRASH OUT OF IRISH SENIOR CUP
Bangor
have crashed out of the Irish Senior Cup, losing 5-1 to Cork Harlequins,
but bizarrely they only have themselves to blame for their exit.
A seemingly infectious habit of gifting goals and losing concentration is
hurting a Bangor side who can rival anyone on their day.
After the game the Munster side were a little shocked to have won by as
much as 5-1 considering the run of play but a side as ruthless as Cork
Harlequins don't turn down generously donated gifts the week before
Christmas.
The signs weren't good from the start when the first Bangor player to
touch the ball gave away a penalty corner. That was successfully defended
but just two minutes later further generosity gave Harlequins another
set-piece attempt and they took advantage, Richard Gash following up after
John Tormey has made the initial save.
Being poor starters Bangor are used to going behind early and there was no
panic as they played themselves back into the game. The midfield of Dowie
Holley, Nicky Blease and Chris Campbell gradually got a hold of the ball
and started to put some pressure on the visitors.
Midway through the half this told when Campbell won a penalty corner and
Mark Daniel fired an unstoppable drag-flick into the bottom right of the
goal.
All square and in the ascendancy. The worst thing Bangor could do would be
give away a soft goal before the break but that's exactly what they did.
More lacklustre defending and another soft penalty corner given away.
This time Harlequins didn't need a second attempt on the Bangor as their
slick routine ended up with Irish international Mark Black deflected home
at the right post to make it 2-1 at the interval.
Having made a poor start to the first half and then conceded before the
break it was absolutely crucial that Bangor made a solid beginning to the
second period. But they didn't, conceding the all-important third within
minutes of the re-start. Again it Gash who was on hand to turn the ball
home after good work from Black on the right flank.
Bangor briefly rallied with a couple of determined attacks but despite a
few penalty corner efforts from Daniel and top scorer Adam Reading they
could not get level again. As time wore on and Bangor became increasingly
desperate for a way back into the game they left more room at the back and
the efficient Cork Harlequins side exploited this well.
First, Black scored his second after the ball had been given away up the
pitch and Harlequins quickly shifted it forward and then Gash completed
his hat-trick from the top of the circle after Tormey had been drawn out
to cover another dangerous attack.
Bangor's only decent late chance fell to Gareth Morton and he actually
thought he has scored with his deflected effort before seeing the Cork
goalkeeper make a superb reflex save.
The Seasiders can now take comfort in the sporting cliche of concentrating
on the league but they do have one significant cup game left, albeit in a
different competition. They play Cookstown on New Year's Eve and should
they win they will most likely progress to a second semi final this year,
this time in the Anderson Cup.
Only a huge Annadale win over Lisnagarvey in the other group game can stop
Bangor if they do their job and beat Cookstown at the third time of asking
this season. A New Year's Eve nerve-wracker awaits.
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