Annadale on a roll

Men's Hockey All-Ireland play-offsArdent Annadale are just one stride away from a debut in Europe. The fresh, unvanquished Ulster title-holders, in sweeping to a 4-2 victory over provincial foes Lisnagarvey in the all-Ireland play-offs at Belfield yesterday, need no more than a draw against Cork C of I to clinch the championship in the final match today.

The Cork team will no doubt remain determined to wrest the laurels from Annadale's grasp, but though they beat Lisnagarvey 4-1 on Saturday, with a four-goal haul by John Jermyn, C of I could figure only in a 0-0 deadlock with Instonians yesterday.

Annadale, who defeated Instonians 2-0 in the first game of the tournament, looked the side with most vigour left at the end of the long season as they outflanked Lisnagarvey, waning after their Irish Senior Cup success, in an exhilarating spectacle.

Ian Hamilton, who had been Annadale's match-winner on Saturday, presented the captain, Chris Jackson, with the opening goal after seven minutes and an astute pass from Grant Hayes enabled Hamilton to increase the lead before Lisnagarvey pressure, notably from Tim Cockram, yielded a reply from Graham Bittle seconds away from the half-time hooter.

However, two goals in the early minutes of the second period by Ian McKeown, following a thrust by Pater Bland, and Hamilton, with a fierce drag flick, left Annadale cruising. Lisnagarvey still generated some defiance through Lee Tumilty, who gave Philip Stirling the chance to reduce the margin, but Annadale remained in control with leading roles coming from Johnny Moore, David Smyth and Ian Lewers.

The earlier match failed to ignite, though most spark came from the C of I midfielders, David Hobbs, Nigel Buttimer and the resourceful Jermyn, and they went closest to scoring two minutes from the end when the promising Richard Arnopp was put into an open channel by Ali Dunne, only to be foiled by a swift advance by the Instonians goalkeeper, Nigel Skillen. Otherwise few opportunities were created against such accomplished defenders as Paddy Brown of Instonians and Karl Burns (C of I ).

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIP (At Belfield) Saturday: Annadale 2 (I Hamilton 2) Instonians 0; Cork C of I 4 (J Jermyn 4) Lisnagarvey 1 (T Cockram); yesterday: Cork C of I 0, Instonians 0; Annadale 4 (I Hamilton 2, C Jackson, I McKeown) Lisnagarvey 2 (G Bittle, P Stirling). Standings: Annadale 4 pts (6-2); Cork C of I 3 pts (4-1); Instonians 1 pt (0-2); Lisnagarvey 0 (3-8).