Bangor were summarily dismissed from the Irish Senior Cup at the first opportunity by a rampant Pembroke Wanderers side who managed to rack up an incredible 14 goals in Dublin.

It was utterly humiliating and a hockey low point for most of the side. Seldom can the competition have seen such a one sided game between two teams of supposedly the same level.

Bangor knew they were in for a tough assignment when the draw was made. Travelling to play the holders and Ireland's only regular representatives in the European Hockey League was as difficult as it comes but this result still surprised everyone. It reflected the huge disparity between a team struggling in Ulster's Premier League and a Dublin side for whom their own league title is no longer the priority. They've bigger fish to fry in Europe.

Bangor can't let the Pembroke Massacre cast a shadow over the rest of their disappointing season and they must somehow lick their wounds, prepare well and go into battle again this weekend, away to Kilkeel. The south Down side gave Bangor a pasting at home earlier this season and Seasiders must be out for revenge. Despite the cup embarrassment there's still the club's league position to secure.

The opening stages on Saturday would have been misleading for anyone watching as Bangor looked fairly comfortable in the opening 10 minutes. They made the odd foray into opposition territory and kept the quicksilver Pembroke forwards at arm's length.

But that changed when they won their first penalty corner. With the sun in his eyes and a blistering flick from the top of the circle John Tormey could do nothing to stop the ball flying into the roof of the net via Michael Harte's shoulder.

Next penalty corner two minutes later - same result. Then the floodgates opened with another penalty corner - this time top right hand corner - and three open play goals bringing the score to 6-0 at the interval.

And there was no let up from the Dublin side. They added three more goals in the first three minutes of the second period. Though two of these were as a result of defending it would be unfair to call schoolboy. In fact, schoolboy James Mottashaw at right back was probably Bangor's best player.

The carnage continued right through the second period with the Pembroke goals taking on a bizarre inevitability. Bangor did venture into the home team's half once or twice but couldn't fashion anything that could truthfully be called even a half chance. That the Pembroke goalkeeper never touched the ball in play tells its own story.

When the final whistle sounded Bangor had conceded a demoralising 14 goals in just 60 minutes of hockey. They can maybe take some comfort from knowing they were playing not just a great team, but perhaps a once in a generation team. But that message would have fallen on deaf ears as the players trooped off with heads bowed.

Back to porridge in the league this weekend and perhaps they will have learnt a few lessons which can be used to pick up some points in Kilkeel. Coach Harry McNeill would dearly love a win to lift Bangor well away from Raphoe and a good deal closer to Premier League survival. He also surely wouldn’t mind having at his disposal a handful of the Pembroke players who tore Bangor to shreds last weekend. But life's not that kind - Bangor will have to beat Kilkeel with what they've got.

 

 

Written by Simon Hunter (and fair play to him !)