Pembroke produced the comeback of the short season to date in the men’s EY Hockey League as they fought their way to a 4-3 success against Dublin rivals Monkstown.
The Ballsbridge club were shy the services of Harry Spain, Cedric Mushiete and Ronan Flannery and struggled in the first half, falling 2-0 behind to goals from Gareth Watkins and Geoff Cole in the first 15 minutes.
They had chances for more in the second quarter but Simon Thornton kept them out and Pembroke produced a remarkable turn of fortunes in the second half.
Scott Sullivan and Geoff Garrett tied things up with two goals in four minutes and Stephen Sweetnam put Pembroke in front by the 49th minute. Cian Murphy made and finished their fourth to cap a fine personal performance and while Guy Sarratt got one back late on, Pembroke had their second successive win.
Banbridge are the other side with two from two as they again left things late to nab a 3-1 win over Cork C of I. John Jermyn’s penalty stroke had C of I in the lead for a long time but Bann levelled with nine minutes to go via Josh Moffett.
Eugene Magee – the hero with a final hooter winner a week ago – got the Co Down side a lead soon after and Moffett completed the turnaround at the end.
Glenanne have four points from six thanks to their 2-1 win over Annadale. David Keogh and Eddie O’Malley put the Tallaght side in good shape before Cameron Ruttle scored his second goal in two appearances for Dale.
Three Rock Rovers got off the mark as they eventually broke through a packed YMCA defence to win 3-1 in the first EYHL to be played at Wesley College. The Y scored from their one attack of the first half with Grant Glutz cancelling out an early goal from Daragh Walsh.
Walsh and Ben Walker scored third-quarter goals to put Rovers clear ahead of their Euro HockeyLeague appearance next weekend in Barcelona.
Lisnagarvey bounced back from their opening day defeat to Pembroke with a 4-0 away win over Cookstown. James Lorimer, Matthew Nelson and Andy Williamson put Garvey 3-0 up within 25 minutes before Nelson – playing alongside his brothers Ben and Daniel – closed out the win.
