campaign rests

Tomorrow (Saturday) they host Pembroke Wanderers (pass-back 2.45pm), who just two weeks ago ousted Garvey from the Irish Senior Cup, nabbing a late winner.

The home side want to overturn that defeat on Saturday and make it two from two after beating Inst in their opening IHL game.

“We need to get as much as possible out of our home games,” said Garvey coach Errol Lutton.

“They’re all hard in the IHL but the game against Pembroke in the Irish Cup was very tight and I don’t see anything to suggest this game will be any different.

“There’s not a lot between the teams. We played quite well in the cup game so this will just be a case of fine-tuning things.”

Garvey’s Irish international Jason Lynch will again be going toe to toe with his brother and Pembroke star Karl, who has finally wrestled away the family bragging rights for the time in the duo’s hockey career.

“We’ve come up against each other five times now and that was the first time he has ever beaten me but he was very gracious about it,” said Garvey’s Jason.

“I thought about it a little bit before that game. Seeing him warming up with the other team is a bit strange but once the game begins, I don’t think about it at all.

“We felt as a team that we didn’t perform to the best of our ability in the cup semi-final. It’s not about getting our own back though, we’re just looking forward to the game and putting in the right sort of performance.”

Coach Lutton was delighted with his side’s opening group victory but knows qualification for the finals weekend in Banbridge won’t come easy.

“Inst have had tight games against all the top teams this season so we always knew it would be a tough game and to go there and get the result was super,” he said.

“I’m delighted to get it. It was tight for a couple of quarters up until 2-2. We knew we needed to show more composure to get in front again and stay there this time. We did that and the fourth goal sealed it.

“We’re in a tough group so we’re just trying to get through to the semi-finals but it won’t be easy.”