Banbridge were crowned Champions of the EYHL on Saturday after beating Glennane 6-2 at St Andrew’s College.
The title win is their first since the 2016-17 season as they finish four points ahead of second placed Lisnagarvey.
It also means the have now won the competition three times.
Going into their away fixture Scott McCandless’ side knew that a win over the side in fifth would seal top spot in the division, meanwhile their nearest challengers faced a difficult task in the form of a home game against Three Rock Rovers.
Garvey were reliant on a Banbridge slip-up, but it didn’t come despite a tense opening thirty minutes. In that time they had taken the lead twice through Johnny McKee and Louis Rowe, only to be pegged back on both occasions.
Then Matthew McKee gave them the lead for a third time before the end of the second quarter, which from that point on there was no looking back.
Louis Rowe added his second and his sides fourth from a short corner with 38 minutes played before Charlie Rowe and David Finlay added goals five and six from open play to finish off their opponents.
However, in the end their result didn’t matter as Lisnagarvey were held to a 2-2 draw in their final game. Ollie Kidd and Mackenzie Connor both scored for the home side but two goals from Three Rock Rovers player Ben Johnston ultimately meant that the points were shared.
The result meant that the gap to the top finished as four points.
Elsewhere fellow Ulster Hockey sides Annadale, Instonians and Cookstown finished the campaign in seventh, eighth and tenth respectively.
Away from the EYHL the good news kept coming for Bann, their second eleven qualified for the Irish Junior Cup Final having beaten Cookstown’s seconds in an end-to-end semi final which finished 4-3.
They will now go on to face Lisnagarvey who beat Instonians in the other semi-final. The game will be played as part of Hockey Ireland’s final weekend which commences on May 6th.
By Andrew Morrison
