On Saturday North Down played Queens in the final of the Irish Hockey Trophy at sunny Banbridge in front of a large crowd of supporters.<\/p>\n
The first quarter was evenly contested with neither side creating any opportunities.\u00a0 North Down thought they had won a corner when \u00a0the ball appeared to hit a Queens defender’s foot but the umpire waved play on.<\/p>\n
North Down were taking control in the second quarter and were making progress down their right but the final pass wouldn\u2019t fall for an incoming forward.\u00a0 The best chance fell to Bailie but he was unable to get the vital touch.\u00a0 Templeton made a great run and his cross was missed by the forwards.\u00a0 Orr ,Gilmore and McKeown combined to win a free in a dangerous position but Queens cleared \u00a0the danger.\u00a0 In a rare Queens attack Rodgers did well to make a block and clear his lines. With 2 minutes remaining Queens were awarded a corner when a defender was alleged to have let the ball hit a foot but the shot was blocked at he expense of another corner which again North Down disputed as Templeton claimed the ball came off his stick.\u00a0 On this occasion Irwin smashed the ball into the net to give Queens a 1-0 half time lead.<\/p>\n
At the start of the third quarter the North Down defence was caught in possession at the half way line.\u00a0 Queens transferred the ball forward quickly and Campbell kept his composure to round keeper Rodgers and score with a strong reverse shot.\u00a0 From this point onwards North Down laid siege on the Queens goal but found their keeper in outstanding form stopping everything that was thrown at him.\u00a0 North Down had four corners in quick succession but their efforts were well saved by the keeper.\u00a0 Spratt and Welsh were causing problems winning 3 further corners but again the routine was not slick enough.\u00a0 Spratt won another corner but McKeown’s effort was well saved when it looked to be goal bound.<\/p>\n
In the final quarter Queens won a corner but the effort went wide.\u00a0 Great play down the right saw Orr cross and his effort was brilliantly deflected goalwards by Tweedie but somehow the keeper made a superb save.\u00a0 With 5 minutes remaining, North Down substituted their keeper for another outfield player.\u00a0 An overhead clearance saw a Queens forward in the clear but he delayed his shot into an open goal allowing a defender to deflect his effort wide. In the final minute North Down finally got the goal their play deserved with Gilmore flicking high into the net after the ball bobbled about in front of goal.<\/p>\n
A 2-1 defeat which was hard to take as North Down’s play deserved more but congratulations to Queens on their success. They took the few chances that came their way while North Down squandered many opportunities.<\/p>\n
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Jamie Orr.<\/p>\n
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t