Glenanne moved three points clear at the top of the men’s EY Hockey League table though things remain incredibly tight with Banbridge and Lisnagarvey just behind them with a game in hand.
For the Glens, they salvaged a 4-3 win in the very last minute from a Jonny McCormack touch from Joe Brennan’s cross to nick the win. Relegation-threatened Cookstown had led early on and then pegged the Glens back to 2-2 and 3-3 to push the leaders all the way.
In the big derby in Ulster, Lisnagarvey continued their excellent run of form to beat Banbridge at Havelock Park. First half goals from Andy Williamson and James Lorimer made the difference as Garvey led 2-0 for a long-time before Eugene Magee got one back in the dying moments.
At the bottom, YMCA made it two wins out of three to continue their move away from the drop-zone, getting the better of Cork C of I at Wesley. Grant Glutz and John Jermyn exchanged first half goals for 1-1 at half-time but Ross Henderson got the decisive finish – from a Gluzt assist – in the second period to nick a 2-1 result.
It moves YM up to eighth and above Cookstown while C of I ended the weekend in bottom spot. The understrength Munster side lost their second game of the weekend on Sunday 4-0 against Three Rock Rovers.
For Rovers, they closed the gap significantly to the top four places with six points out of six. They cut loose late in their tie on Saturday against Monkstown, winning 5-2.
Goals from play from Luke Madeley and Harry MacMahon built a 2-0 lead which Guy Sarratt countered. But further strikes from Madeley, Ben Walker and Mark English stretched out a comfortable final scoreline.
Pembroke, though, remain a couple of points ahead of them thanks to a 2-1 success at Annadale. Greg Chambers and the returning Andrew Shekleton put them in good shape before Andrew O’Hare got a Dale consolation with a minute to go.
Men’s EY Hockey League results
Saturday: Annadale 1 (A O’Hare) Pembroke 2 (G Chambers, A Shekleton); Banbridge 1 (E Magee) Lisnagarvey 2 (A Williamson, J Lorimer); Glenanne 4 (G Shaw, S Boucher, J McCormack) Cookstown 3 (M Kerr, D Crooks, P Thompson); Three Rock Rovers 5 (L Madeley 2, B Walker, M English, H MacMahon) Monkstown 2 (G Sarratt, R Quirke); YMCA 2 (G Glutz, R Henderson) Cork C of I 1 (J Jermyn)
Sunday: Three Rock Rovers 4 (H Morris, L Madeley, B Walker, J Hosking) Cork C of I 0
