Premier League : Bangor 0 v 2 Banbridge 4

Anderson Cup: Lisnagarvey 3 v 0 Bangor (Shaw's Bridge)

"DISASTER WEEKEND FOR BANGOR"

Bangor's most important weekend of the season ended in huge disappointment when they crashed out of the Anderson Cup and appeared to ruin any chance they had to qualify for next year's All-Ireland championship.

On Saturday they went down 4-0 to Banbridge at home and a day later they lost 3-0 to Lisnagarvey with their first ever appearance in a top flight final in sight.

The entire squad were understandably devastated that a weekend that showed such promise could end so harshly.
Saturday was particularly galling considering Bangor's excellent home record against Banbridge. But this year they produced an insipid performance that could have seen them dead and buried by half time if it were not for the heroics of captain John Tormey in goal and his deputy Adam Reading in front of him. In fact, these two were probably the only Bangor players whose reputation was enhanced over the weekend. That neither has ever received senior honours is a mystery to those that play and train with them every week.

For the record, Banbridge took the lead midway through the half from a Geoff McCabe penalty corner, with Stephen Forbes tapping in a second shortly before half-time.

Bangor did rally in the early exchanges of the second half but despite dominating possession and territory they could not get a shot on target or win a penalty corner. As they became increasingly desperate to get back into the game Banbridge began to pick them off on the counter attack, adding two late goals through Dane Ward and a wonderfully well struck half-volley from Colin Dowds.

Onto Sunday and Bangor were hopeful that lessons were learned against Banbridge and they could get the better of Lisnagarvey. Unfortunately they ran out of gas in the second half after giving their all to stay level with the Hillsborough side until the break.

Bangor's only chance in the first half came after a typically gutsy Chris Campbell run. Lisnagarvey had their own chances, most notably from Cochram's penalty corners, and Tormey made a number of sharp saves. On one occasion he also had to get a little help from Michael Harte to clear his lines.

That Lisnagarvey could bring former Irish international Mark Raphael off the bench for the second period spoke of the difference in depth between the sides. He was to be involved in all three goals, grabbing the third himself.

Bangor could not be faulted for effort and the rich irony was that it was on one of the few occasions when they committed men upfield that they were undone. A ruthless Lisnagarvey counter cut Bangor open and Timmy Cochram was left to tap-in at the back post with Tormey stranded. One-nil down but the goal meant so much more to a heavy legged Bangor side.

For the second game in a row that were picked off as they tried in vain to get back onto level terms. In the final 10 minutes Cochram added a second from a penalty corner and then Raphael cut in from the left to get the goal his match turning performance deserved.

They will now meet Banbridge in the Anderson Cup final, while Bangor have only the rest of their league programme to look forward to. That begins with another visit to Shaw's Bridge this Saturday when they face Instonians. Hopes of an all-Ireland place may be slim but if they are to be kept alive a win is the only thing Bangor can contemplate.