Draw sees Garvey remain unbeaten as season ends

LISNAGARVEY’S long and involved season came to an end at Lough Moss on Saturday when a very youthful team drew 2-2 with an equally young Annadale outfit so remaining unbeaten in their 18 match programme.

Playing without captain, Jonny Bell, Timmy Cockram, James Lorimer and Daniel Buser who were representing Ireland on their two match tour of Germany. Both Lorimer and Buser received their first caps while Ireland first defeated the Olympic champions and then lost to them in the two internationals played last week. Also missing were Mark Raphael, Brian Waring, Richard Arneill and Greg Thompson. Keeper John Tormey was replaced by Gavin Adams and the young 18 year old proceeded to grab the man of the match accolade with a superb performance.

There were senior debuts for Aaron Martin, Sean Murray, Daniel Nelson and Matthew Getty and all of them showed their potential during the 70 minutes. The game was an open affair with both sides trying hard to play attacking hockey in the heavy rain and the resulting draw was probably fair to both teams.

Annadale engineered a half chance after just 2 minutes but the danger was cleared and Garvey replied with a shot from Daniel Nelson after their first penalty corner in the 4th minute.

Play was even during the following 15 minutes with both sides vying for supremacy in midfield until Annadale forced their 2nd penalty corner in the 24th minute but the resulting drag flick went harmlessly past the post.

At last, in the 25th minute, Garvey broke the deadlock when Peter Bland and Aaron Martin swapped passes before Bland finished off the move scoring from 5 yards out giving his team a narrow advantage.

Annadale immediately responded with two set pieces of their own and from the first Gavin Adams made the first of a number of fine saves. The second effort was dragged past the post but the young keeper was in action in the last minute of the half when he brought off a great save from the dangerous Edgar to maintain Garvey’s slender lead at the interval.

The second period began with the home team putting severe pressure on the young Garvey defence forcing three penalty corners in six minutes. The first shot was again blocked by Adams but the second drag flick, was initially saved but the rebound was slotted into the net by Heath and Annadale were back on level terms in the 41st minute.

Annadale were buoyed by their equaliser and swamped the Garvey defence until they took the lead in the 44th minute. Following another great save by Adams from a penalty corner, Garvey were stripped down their left and a pin point cross was tapped into the net by Edgar.

Garvey looked as if they were tiring at this stage but they surged back in the 54th minute and had a Daniel Nelson shot taken off the goal line and the resulting penalty corner was also cleared off the line to keep the game at 2-1 to Annadale.

The young Garvey team were not to be denied as pushed hard for an equaliser and they were rewarded in the 58th minute when after a fine run by Andy Forrest on the right wing the ball fell to Daniel Nelson who scored his first goal for Garvey at the left hand post.

Edgar shot over the cross bar for Annadale in the 63rd minute while Garvey skipper on the day, Steven Arbuthnot saw their 3rd penalty corner saved easily four minutes later but it was the home side which finished the stronger. They forced a penalty corner in the last minute of the match but wasted the chance to snatch the points with a poorly executed routine and after 70 minutes honours were even and Garvey had maintained the unbeaten league programme while still finishing behind champions Banbridge.

The game had been an interesting exercise with the introduction of so many youngsters into the squad and Garvey can only feel content with the performance of the debutants with keeper Gavin Adams being by far the pick of the bunch.