Just over a week ago in Dublin, invitations went out from Corinthian HC. There would be drinks for life members, the media and sponsors on the occasion of Lisnagarvey's prestigious visit to Whitechurch Park to defend the Nissan-backed Irish Senior Cup. It would be a big day for the host club and, with enthusiastic support and several extra practice sessions, perhaps a result of substance could be achieved against the odds.
On Saturday, too, among the 16 second-round ties, Trinity would be facing one of the toughest assignments - it was in Ulster, one under-graduate thought, and the students didn't manage to train during the week before they set off for Banbridge on the morning of the game. They would suffer one of the heaviest defeats of the day, the pundits hinted. But who knows what fate has in store?
As is well known in hockey circles this morning, not only were Corinthians duly rewarded for their hospitality and spirited preparations, in that Lisnagarvey were sent packing 2-1 after extra time, but Trinity pulled off the most startling coup of the competition in eliminating Banbridge at Havelock Park with a last-minute goal by Gareth Hinds.
In both cases, stout short-corner defending was a principal factor in the outcomes. The count was 16-4 to Lisnagarvey as they failed to get a set-piece shot out of an inspired Peter Darley's reach, while Corinthians played with much verve through the field to earn their victory. While the Australian trio of Colin Stewart, Paul Armitage and James Benson were the equals of Lisnagarvey's most illustrious figures, Alan Dowd, Jimmy Kirwood and Daniel Clarke, every member of the home side rose to the occasion, with Tom Connell and Cormac Byrne, in the heart of the defence, making particularly valuable contributions.
Connell knived through the cover as early as the second minute, delivering a reverse-stick pass for 30-year-old player-coach Stewart to sink a lead goal. With Darley immediately bringing off a fine save from Mark Tumilty, Lisnagarvey - though stroking the ball around admirably - did not equalise until their first offensive of the second half when Kirkwood found an opening for Peter Richardson.
Raymond Geddis barely foiled Benson in a counter-attack, and Darley blocked Kirkwood at the other end, before Stewart lashed a pass from Bruce Campbell into the roof of the net five minutes into extra time to leave Lisnagarvey desperately striving to survive, but in vain.
In Banbridge, Stephen Bredin's unflinching charging down of corners (15), allied to defiant goalkeeping by Peter Spencer and a top class-performance by sweeper Michael Brett, enabled Trinity to hold the local brigade scoreless. Then, in the dying seconds, Hinds deflected home a free from Alastair Cullen to poach a remarkable passage to the last-16 stage. "Yes, that was about the only time we breached their circle," the modest Hinds admitted.
Besides Lisnagarvey and Banbridge, other strong sides to miss the cut were Cork C of I and Glenanne. Without the injured Alastair Dunne, C of I were not sharp enough to hold Harlequins, who won the Munster derby 3-1, with Wesley Bateman and David Eakins playing leading roles.
In Donegal, Glenanne conceded an early goal to Raphoe's leading marksman, Jonathan Lecky, and although much pressure from Graham Shaw led to a penalty-stroke equaliser from Stephen Butler, the home side managed to cling on and snatch the winner in extra time through Vincent Devenney from a cross by William Wauchope.
Overall, eight Ulster teams, led by Instonians (untroubled by under-strength UCD), go into the draw for the third round (January 31st). They are joined by Harlequins and Belvedere from Munster, plus five Leinster clubs, notably last season's beaten finalists, Pembroke Wanderers. Railway Union still have a chance to make it six representatives from Dublin when they travel to Bangor for the only replay.
