HOCKEY/Cookstown 3 Lisnagarvey 1:Cookstown recorded a surprisingly comfortable 3-1 win over Irish Hockey League champions Lisnagarvey to land their fifth Kirk Cup in Havelock Park yesterday – the first title on offer on the Ulster calendar.

As in Munster, it was built off the back of a three-goal lead, rendering Timmy Cockram’s late penalty corner goal five minutes from the end meaningless.

The Co Tyrone side showed their intent inside the first minute when Greg Allen had an effort taken off the line but the opener was not long in arriving.

Paul Thompson burst through two tackles before finding Jonny Ames on the backline and his sharp pass allowed Stuart Smyth walk the ball into an empty net.

Smyth created the second early in the second period, his tantalising cross allowing Gareth Cuddy deflect into an empty net. And it was game over when Keith Black netted from the penalty spot deep into the second half.

Cockram’s goal drew a ripple of applause but little else as Cookstown ran up their fourth success in the competition in the last seven years, overturning last term’s 2-1 loss in the St Stephen’s Day final.

It proved an emotional moment for Simon Todd, the experienced ex-Mossley man, playing his first cup final since switching clubs in the autumn.