Cookstown Hockey Club

Cookstown came out second best against Three Rock Rovers at Steelweld Park on Saturday in the first leg of their back-to-back EYHL matches.

Three Rock captain, Jody Hosking, got his team on their way in quarter one, getting the slightest of touches off a low Luke Madeley drag at short corner time, to take the ball past Josh McCabe. Cookstown came back with Michael Kerr getting into the circle, but his final pass went just askew.

A second Three Rock penalty corner saw McCabe and Matty Rollins combine to keep the ball out. A Ross Canning green saw them stretched by Dan and Mark Crooks, Scott McCabe finding a Three Rock stick rather than a Cookstown one when he got to the bye line.

The second quarter was only minutes old when a long Daragh Walsh pass picked out Kevin Mullins’ run. He spun onto the strong side and unleashed an unstoppable hit into the far corner for 2-0. They might have gone further ahead but for stops by McCabe and Ryan Millar at short corner time.

Cookstown put on a bit more pressure at the start of the third quarter, but it was Three Rock who extended their lead. Walsh took advantage of a Madeley turnover, setting Mark English scampering down the left. His reverse into the danger area was deflected over the line by Mullins for his second of the game.

The home side continued to threaten and might’ve had a penalty stroke when Stu Smyth’s shot was prevented from crossing the line by a defender’s foot. From the subsequent penalty corner, Jamie Carr saved and set up a counter-attack. Mullins might’ve had his hat trick but for the brave last-ditch diving tackle by Dan Crooks.

Walsh pulled an excellent save out of McCabe just before the end of the quarter.

Carr was again called into action in the fourth quarter, saving two Smyth drags from the set piece. Cookstown finally found a way past the Ireland international with four minutes left only to see the attempt hit the post. Ryan Millar robbed the ball on the edge of his own circle, running the length of the field before switching to Stewart Wylie. His tomahawk-volley looked goalbound only to strike the upright.

The two teams meet again next week at Grange Road in Rathfarnham in the penultimate match of the league season.

Solo Fuels MVP: Daragh Walsh