Lisnagarvey claim league EY Hockey League title after beating Annadale

They tore into a 7-0 lead before bottom-placed side Dale got a couple of goals back but Garvey were already well into party mood at that stage after doubles from Timmy Cockram and Sean Murray.

It was their 13th successive victory in the league, putting them 13 points clear of the chasers with three games to go, ensuring they have a major piece of silverware after they missed out on the Irish Senior Cup two weeks ago.

Monkstown are all but over the line in terms of claiming a Champions Trophy place after they shared a 0-0 draw with Glenanne in Tallaght.

The sky-blues made most of the early running and saw two chances cleared off the line, one by Clive Kennedy, one by Stu Ronan.

The point may yet prove a useful one for the Glens as they sit in fifth place.

Stephen Dowds’ hat trick moved Banbridge a big step closer to a place in the EY Champions Trophy playoffs, needing just one win from their three remaining games to assure their passage to the end of season finale where they will be hosts.

Dowds set them on their way in the fifth minute from a corner after a long airborne clearance picked out Josh Moffett’s excellent run to win the set piece.

Early in the second quarter, he slotted another corner flick into the bottom right for 2-0.

Cookstown grew more into the game as time went on with Stuart Smyth drawing a good save from Gareth Lennox while Mark Crooks rode a few tackles but, with the goal begging, his ball hit a Cookstown foot.

But the game was done and dusted in the third quarter.

Matthew Bell had one disallowed in favour of a corner but the Co Down side were three up when Dowds, once again, nailed a drag-flick low to the keeper’s left.

Soon after, Bell flicked in yet another set-piece for 4-0 in the 43rd minute.

Ross Beattie completed the rout after tight skills from Frazer Mills out wide led to a dink from the forward which somehow made it into the corner.

Ryan Millar hit the upright for Cookstown in the closing stages, denying the Co Tyrone side a late goal but they were well beaten at that stage.

Indeed, they conceded a late penalty stroke but Jonny McKee’s effort was denied by Ian Hughes.

Three Rock Rovers clung on to fourth place despite giving up a 2-0 lead in the second half against Cork C of I.

Fred Morris and Daragh Walsh both scored corner rebounds only for John Jermyn, recently recalled to the Irish team, to strike twice late on.

The result moves Cork out of the relegation playoff place on goal difference.

Pembroke, meanwhile, inched up to sixth place ahead of Railway Union with a 3-2 win with Alan Sothern doing the damage.

Railway led early through James Dick but Harry Spain and Sothern scored from corners to swap the lead.

Sothern and Kirk Shimmins then combined for the clinching goal with the former finishing off, rendering Dick’s second goal a mere consolation.