Banbridge target second treble with five-trophy clean sweep still on cards

Having made club history last year as treble winners, victory today in the Irish Senior Cup final would complete a repeat of that success – plus move the club one step closer to a full five-strong haul of silverware.

After months of adapting and adjusting to unique problems, the rewards available across the next run of fixtures would put 2024 in unchartered territory even for a Banbridge club with such a decorated and celebrated past.

Having edged out great rivals Lisnagarvey to the Irish league title and Champions Trophy, both clubs have a date in Dublin this weekend aiming to lift the world’s oldest field hockey cup, first established in 1894.

The two teams, so dominant across recent seasons in men’s hockey, will clash again on Tuesday in the Kirk Cup showpiece. And, following Banbridge’s quarter-final victory on Wednesday, an Anderson Cup final showdown between the two respected rivals remains open.

It marks a frantic finale for Banbridge within a season head coach Scott McCandless calls “a balancing act” given the special challenges of internationals’ summer Olympic Games preparations, injuries to key players, a reshuffled fixture list and the absence due to retirement of the great Eugene Magee – alongside the glorious burden of defending a landmark Irish treble.

"This year is different because of the Olympic Games preparations and also coming into the season having won the treble then losing players to injury and the hole left by Eugene Magee retiring,” said McCandless. “But the communication with Ireland has been great all along and everyone is buying into the bigger picture of what this summer in Paris means, so we all understand.

"We've five in the Ireland senior squad and three across the extended international panel, so eight overall from our group of 24.

“Players were never missing games as much as training four or five times a week, so we accept there's a fatigue element.

“Ireland train Monday, weights on a Tuesday, together Wednesday, back with us on a Thursday and some have a technical session on a Friday.

“We had done quite well before Christmas but then lost some momentum after and you could see some odd results in the league once clubs started having players train that way with Ireland.

“But there is a positive – with other players getting a first-hand insight at club level into that international experience.

"We don't bring in a lot of outside players so rely heavily on Banbridge Academy schoolboys and we've six or seven Irish under 21s and on down the age groups, so it's a healthy production line.

“A few years back we only had one training with Ireland seniors but now it is increased and we've always said we want as many internationals in our panel so everyone can see the benchmarks.

“It's an environment we try to create with the help of Irish hockey but that's easy to drive as it's all very visible, that carrot."

The extension of a player leadership group first established last season has been key – alongside the dedication of the coaching team and club volunteers.

“We've seen a real focus in the players over the past few weeks that they really want to finish the season well,” said McCandless. “Confidence is high and this intense period with every game must-win is a situation to which the guys have really responded.

“And we've plenty of volunteers and people happy to step up...it's a community club.

"One of the big aspects to the season has been coming in having won a treble...across sport you've seen teams then suffer to follow that level of achievement on but, credit to everyone, that's not been the case.

"Eugene's retirement left a massive hole with his experience and that example to others...but we've players who have stepped up.

"With the Olympics around the corner we've a lot of people chasing rewards so there's no room for complacency.

“Training has gone up a level from last year.

“We pride ourselves on an intense environment at training for players to improve.

“It's not just the 16 or 18 players you might normally use, it's a squad game for all 24.

“It shows the standards that, regardless of who is on the pitch, the guys can compete at every level, even those being asked to step in.

“We've an excellent coaching team, it's not just an individual role, it's very much shared...we do a lot of video work and one-to-one management, so it's quite intense at times.

“Plus we've a leadership group of players sharing responsibility.

“We introduced the player leadership group last season but now expanded to seven representing a number of positions and age ranges.

“We would press on them hard if there’s something we think has dropped off.”

Now another high-stakes, high-profile clash with Lisnagarvey awaits in Dublin.

"The teams know each other inside-out, so these games come down to vital moments in any encounter,” said McCandless. “It's very, very tight between the sides.

"To do the Irish treble again this weekend would be special and we've not won the Kirk or Anderson cups in a while.

"Plus we will return to European hockey with lessons from last year in Barcelona.

“We're always trying to measure, improve and push on.”