HOCKEY: Lisnagravey beat Cork at Comber Road

Lisnagarvey were the big winners, seeing off fourth placed Cork C of I 6-1 at Comber Road with a breathtaking first half performance.

Matthew Nelson broke the deadlock just a few minutes into the tie before Daniel Buser’s slightly miscued finished found its way in, too, for a 2-0 lead at quarter-time.

The second quarter saw Garvey move further ahead with a goal by Sean Murray in the 21st minute before Cork Church of Ireland pulled one back with Andy Gray – back after a lengthy spell out with a broken hand – getting the final touch.

But Garvey effectively put the game out of reach by half time with two more goals through Nelson’s second followed by a James Lorimer PC drag flick, extending out a 5-1 advantage.

The third quarter was a cagey affair with no clear cut chances for either side despite C of I going down to nine players for a spell. Timmy Cockram capped the victory with a corner goal in the closing quarter to see out a 6-1 win.

Garvey stay three points off top spot in third place behind Banbridge, albeit with a game extra played than Bann and Three Rock Rovers, the other side ahead of them.

Three Rock continued their excellent run of form with a sixth successive win as they came from 2-0 down to beat Town 3-2 at Grange Road. That run includes beating each of the other sides in the top five.

Kyle Good and Gareth Watkins had Monkstown in great shape with twin cracking strikes for a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining. But Kevin Mullins got Rovers on the board before a pair of Luke Madeley – a day before his 21st birthday – drag flicks turned the game around. His second came with six minutes to go to crown the win.

Banbridge eased to a 4-1 win over Pembroke to maintain their lead at the top of the table, two points clear of Rovers.

The Co Down side broke the deadlock when Matthew Bell’s monster overhead led to a penalty corner. Eugene Magee’s first up drag-flick was saved but he adapted his body brilliantly to thrash home the rebound.

Pembroke rallied and won a corner of their own that Gareth Lennox saved while another couple of Bann set-pieces were kept out. From the fourth corner for the hosts – early in the second quarter – Bell disguised a drag to the right post where McKee guided home for 2-0.

The third goal arrived in the third quarter when Magee beat Harry Spain to a through ball down the right wing, twisted back inside the defender and crossed on the backhand for McKee to touch in his second.

The fourth came soon after but was hotly contested. Jake Rowe made the incision down the left wing before getting the ball across into the centre where Ross Beattie arrived to slide a first-time backhand shot into the roof of the goal. Pembroke argued the cross came via Rowe’s foot but their protests fell on deaf ears.

Alan Sothern got a consolation drag-flick for Pembroke in the closing few minutes as Pembroke remain in a share of fifth place with Monkstown but 10 points off the playoff places.

UCD finally ended their seven-game losing streak to record a crucial 3-2 win over Railway Union to move back out of the relegation playoff position. They had trailed 2-1 at one stage.