Lisnagarvey stay on track for dream treble
Lisnagarvey celebrate after victory over Banbridge. Photo: Max Fulham
Daniel Nelson and James Milliken combined to send Lisnagarvey into raptures as they broke home Havelock Park hearts with a 3-1 shoot-out win over Banbridge in the men’s EY Champions Trophy final, after the sides finished level at 2-2.
Nothing separated the teams in their two league encounters and there was absolutely nothing between them once more following a cracking contest.
Lisnagarvey led twice in the first half, with James Lorimer’s drag-flick and a gorgeous Daniel Nelson finish putting them 2-1 up at half-time, Jonny McKee’s individual effort getting Bann on the board. The hosts fought back brilliantly in the second half and forced a shoot-out when Eugene Magee volleyed in a corner rebound, sending the game to a shoot-out.
Garvey, though, held their nerve and scored three of their four attempts, Nelson spinning to turn in the winning goal.
For Banbridge, it continues their frustration on finals day, with the club losing out on the national stage for a fifth time in the last decade since their 2011 success. They will travel to Europe next season as Ireland’s second seed, with Garvey the top seed, and they will look to complete a treble next weekend in the Irish Senior Cup final against Monkstown.
For Daniel Nelson, the eldest of three brothers in action, he could not contain his excitement.
“Unbelievable! Can’t put it into words. We lost this play-off three years ago and then with Covid, it has been a long time coming to get back to this point and this opportunity.
“To score in normal time, get the winning shoot-out, it is just unbelievable. Full credit to all the other boys – I get the glory but we wouldn’t be there without them and without all James Milliken’s fantastic saves. We are over the moon.��
For Garvey, it saw them add to the EY Hockey League title won three weeks ago on the final day of the season. Had it not been for Covid, that would have been three-in-a-row as the curtailed 2019/’20 season denied them that title when only a miracle would have seen them not finish first. That scenario has added to the emotion of this success.
“We had a fantastic league win (in 2019) and were doing fantastically well in 2020 and then Covid hit. We always call this a 2.5-peat rather than a three-peat,” said Nelson.
“To win these two trophies and a massive test against Monkstown next week is fantastic. An Ulster Cup final and a European trip after that. Everyone thinks our season is done but we still have a month to go!” said Nelson.
