Lisnagarvey lift Irish Senior Cup but Pegasus lose out on finals day

Victory on Saturday over UCD arrived off a thrilling 3-2 scoreline in the 2019/20 season’s showpiece final.

The game started at an incredible pace with Nelson securing the opening goal within the first 90 seconds.

However, UCD’s Andrew Meates secured the equaliser before the clock had hit two-and-a-half minutes.

UCD pressed hard and were awarded a penalty corner at eight minutes.

The insertion from David Nolan provided Guy Sarratt with a shot on Lisnagarvey’s James Milliken, who saved it well with the rebound from Nolan going wide.

UCD created a number of opportunities in the opening quarter.

However, the Lisnagarvey defence kept the score level as first quarter ended.

UCD took the lead in the second quarter with a goal from Sam Byrne.

An aerial pass from Meates coming in close to the goal saw Sarratt attempt to knock it in but hitting the post and Byrne finishing the job on the rebound.

Lisnagarvey suffered a green card but UCD failed to take full advantage off penalty corner pressure.

Despite UCD dominating play in the second quarter, Lisnagarvey finished the first half with a run from Daniel Nelson creating an opportunity for Harry Morris but the shot went wide.

Lisnagarvey found their rhythm in the second half, with a penalty corner shot from James Corry going just wide.

This was followed shortly afterwards by another attack during a period of sustained pressure.

A long drive from Lorimer in UCD’s circle was saved but not put out of danger.

UCD defended well but Lisnagarvey kept possession for another shot by Lorimer, this time kicked clear by UCD keeper Max Maguire.

A green card for Lorimer gave UCD a short respite as Alex Flynn and Peter Lynch both created opportunities to increase the lead, however, these were kept out by Lisnagarvey defence.

A final shot coming from UCD’s Ewan Ramsey was cleared by Milliken before the close of the third quarter.

A yellow card for Lisnagarvey’s Andrew Edgar with 13 minutes to go did nothing to help UCD increase their lead.

Nelson and Troy Chambers managed to bring the ball into the UCD circle, with Nelson eventually securing the equaliser despite Lisnagarvey being a man down.

Lisnagarvey continued to push and an infringement on Nelson in the UCD circle saw a penalty corner awarded, although the ensuing shot was blocked.

Williamson secured the final goal for Lisnagarvey, breaking into the UCD circle and coming within feet of the goal to push it in.

A penalty corner in the final two minutes offered UCD the biggest opportunity to keep the final alive but Milliken tipped the ball to bounce it off the post.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, Nelson broke through the UCD circle and was met by UCD’s Andrew Tutty, whose interaction with Nelson secured him a yellow card and a penalty corner for Lisnagarvey.

The final play of the game saw Lorimer hit the post and the rebound sent wide as Lisnagarvey won the cup.

Pegasus’ bid for Irish Senior Cup glory in the women’s final ended in a weekend defeat by 3-1 to UCD.

It marked a third victory in the tournament across four years by UCD.

UCD took an early lead with two goals in the opening quarter.

A penalty corner in the first five minutes saw KJ Marshall insert for UCD and Hannah McLoughlin put the open goal on the scoreboard.

UCD’s Michelle Carey showed off some impressive skills shortly afterwards to make it 2-0 to UCD. With a number of Pegasus defenders in the circle trying to keep her out, Carey lifted the ball onto her stick in mid-air, juggling it as she moved before hitting it in past Pegasus keeper Megan Todd.

UCD proved the dominant team in the opening quarter, although a sideline shot across the goal from outside the circle for Shirley McCay went wide without a Pegasus player there to receive it.

Pegasus came out fighting in the second quarter with a number of early entries into the UCD circle, although kept out of the goal each time.

UCD had an opportunity on the Pegasus goal kept out by Todd, who also produced a save off a penalty corner.

Pegasus’ Lucy McKee had a quick charge down the pitch to challenge UCD, which ultimately was defended. However, an interception from UCD passing created the opportunity to take a shot, not quite producing a goal for the Pegasus side but did succeed in securing a penalty corner.

The penalty corner led to McCay with a shot, deflected from the goal by defence and resulting in a second penalty corner. A similar insertion and shot routine followed, although Pegasus lost control of the ball and the half-time score remained 2-0 to UCD.

Pegasus retained the energy they brought to the second quarter for the remainder of the game.

UCD were able to apply pressure early on in this quarter, however, Pegasus seemed to spend much more time in the UCD half of the pitch throughout.

A penalty corner for Pegasus saw McCay eventually able to find Ruth Maguire unmarked to bring Pegasus back into the game at 2-1.

Pegasus returned for the final quarter of the match applying serious pressure on UCD in search of an equaliser.

The first chance of the quarter coming in the UCD circle, although it was well defended by UCD.

A penalty corner to Pegasus provided McCay with another shot on the UCD goal, however, keeper Clodagh Cassin again ensured UCD kept their lead.

The pressure from Pegasus was clear when on two occasions UCD opted for long shots down the pitch.

Both times failed to see them make any progress towards the Pegasus goal as the UCD players remained in their own half in order to face attacks.

Despite the dominant presence of the Pegasus players in the UCD half of the pitch, Pegasus struggled to stay in the UCD circle when attacking.

With just over seven minutes left on the clock, UCD managed to push back into Pegasus’ half of the pitch.

A lovely run and run provided Katherine Egan with a shot for a 3–1 lead over Pegasus with just five minutes on the clock.

The reaction from Pegasus saw them move to 11 outfield players.

While they continued to press throughout the final minutes of the game, UCD remained strong and Pegasus were unable to change the scoreline before the final whistle.

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