Garvey Seconds are through to cup quarter final with fine Glenanne win

The first half ended in stalemate in a typically cagey cup tie atmosphere with both sides struggling against the outrageous weather conditions as well as each other.

Garvey felt confident the breakthrough would soon come with the continued pressure in the second period.

However, five minutes in and they found themselves a goal down to Glenanne’s first shot on goal. It came from the penalty spot after a rush of blood to the head of experienced centre back Paul Fleming saw him scythe down the Glens’ striker as he attempted to shoot for goal. Fleming stayed on the pitch but the stroke was converted.

Refusing to panic they continued to play their hockey and finally were rewarded with the equaliser in the 50th minute when an Ian Davidson through ball made it to James Dowling. Dowling’s first touch seemed to take the ball away from him but he managed to slide forward and finish superbly past the on rushing keeper to level the match.

Suddenly it looked a tall order for Glenanne who, as their coach admitted afterwards, had been trying to contain their hosts. With their tails up Garvey forced a couple of corners which proved difficult to execute in the heavy rain. From one breakdown the excellent Mark McNellis had a fine shot saved but he leapt on the rebound to square the ball back into the path of Philip Stirling who deflected home through the keepers legs for the lead.

A typically probing run from young Jack Wilson induced panic in the frail Glenanne defence. The ball fell kindly to Stirling who’s shot was saved only to drop into the path of the ever ruthless Aaron Martin who needed no second invitation to fire it into the roof and seal the victory.

Garvey added two more in the dying stages with Fleming this time converting a stroke at the right end after Glen Whitten had been impeded with the goal at his mercy.

Fleming’s finish almost maxed out the speedometer as he sent the keeper the wrong way and slammed the ball into the bottom corner. Whitten himself then converted direct from a penalty corner at the death to finish the rout and make it 5-1.

Garvey’s reward is a home tie with Dublin giants Pembroke Wanderers who include former international star Justin Sherriff in their ranks on March 2.