Craig Wilson’s late goal garnered a losing bonus point from Pembroke’s second Pool F tie in the EuroHockey League in Eindhoven, a result which will help Ireland’s longer term aspirations of holding onto two places in the competition.
It was no less than they deserved as they put it up to the 2008 finalists in a tie to determine who topped the group and who will be seeded second in the KO16 draw. The Dutch side started the stronger, Wouter Brasem and David van Ass both on target as they dominated the first quarter.
The Irish champions improved significantly in the second period with Scott Furlong and Jethro Eustice getting to grips with the young HGC forward line. Mick O’Connor – one of the heroes of Friday’s game – also began to assert his influence.
But it was Dick Mohlmann who got the next goal, scoring early in the third quarter before Brandon Panther scored his fourth goal in his third appearance for the club with a corner switch drag-flick.
David van Ass quickly re-established the three goal lead from close range. Pembroke were far from finished, however, and they stormed back with Wilson netting a bizarre corner.
Panther initially left the ball behind but managed to keep the chance alive with a delightful punch of the ball into the ground to bounce it over the first runner’s stick and then shoot onto the post.
The rebound bounced out to Wilson ten yards out and he struck a volley firmly into the ground to bounce up and over the logged goalkeeper.
It left Pembroke within the losing bonus point remit to add to their haul in the EHL nations ranking table.
Elsewhere, the other Irish involved in the competition had a fruitful day as Madrid’s Club de Campo and Belgium’s KHC Dragons both qualified as pool winners for the KO16.
Ronan Gormley’s Campo drew 2-2 with Rott-Weiss Koln to top Pool B while Stephen Butler and Eugene Magee were part of the side who shocked reigning champions UHC Hamburg 4-2.
EHL Pool F result: Pembroke 2 (Brandon Panther, Craig Wilson) HGC 4 (David van Ass 2, Wouter Brasem, Dick Mohlmann)
Pool F standings: 1. HGC 10pts (+9) 2. Pembroke 6pts (-1) 3. Olimpia Kolos Sekvoia 1pt (-8)
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | • | Glenanne | 18 | 42 |
| 2 | • | Monkstown | 18 | 41 |
| 3 | • | Pembroke | 18 | 34 |
| 4 | • | Railway Union | 18 | 33 |
| 5 | • | YMCA | 18 | 30 |
| 6 | • | Corinthian | 18 | 19 |
| 7 | ↑ | Fingal | 18 | 18 |
| 8 | ↓ | TRR | 18 | 17 |
| 9 | • | UCD | 18 | 12 |
| 10 | • | Clontarf | 18 | 6 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | • | Railway Union | 18 | 46 |
| 2 | • | UCD | 18 | 46 |
| 3 | • | Loreto | 18 | 42 |
| 4 | • | Old Alex | 18 | 34 |
| 5 | • | Hermes | 18 | 32 |
| 6 | • | Trinity College | 18 | 18 |
| 7 | ↑ | Glenanne | 18 | 13 |
| 8 | ↓ | Corinthian | 18 | 11 |
| 9 | ↓ | Pembroke | 18 | 11 |
| 10 | • | TRL | 18 | 4 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | • | Avoca | 18 | 40 |
| 2 | • | Suttonians | 18 | 35 |
| 3 | • | Weston | 18 | 32 |
| 4 | • | Dublin University | 18 | 30 |
| 5 | • | Rathgar | 18 | 24 |
| 6 | • | Portrane | 18 | 20 |
| 7 | • | Mullingar | 18 | 4 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | • | Loreto II | 18 | 47 |
| 2 | • | Pembroke II | 18 | 42 |
| 3 | • | North Kildare | 18 | 33 |
| 4 | • | Railway Union II | 18 | 30 |
| 5 | • | Old Alex II | 18 | 23 |
| 6 | • | Hermes II | 18 | 23 |
| 7 | • | Newbridge | 18 | 18 |
| 8 | • | Genesis | 18 | 17 |
| 9 | • | UCD II | 18 | 15 |
| 10 | • | Corinthian II | 18 | 6 |
October 18, 2010 8:05 am
fabianski says
Congratulations Alan Giles on a superb performance in leading Pembroke to the last 16 of the EHL. Behind the scenes Pembroke have done exceptional work to pull together the team that appeared in Eindhoven.
October 19, 2010 12:17 pm
paul byrne says
Pembroke have done well, but how green are they, would hate to see the no of airmiles they have encountered getting the influx of players into their ranks, but suppose nothing new in that given the number of imports they have had over the past years.
Constant foreign recruitment cant be good for the development of their own youth, and maybe they could have sacrificed some of the new players to give their own a chance, but suppose this would have to be weighted up against maybe not competing as well initially in EHL.
Anyways was great to watch the irish players, in the EHL competing for the Dragons, Campo an dPembroke, and hope for more success from the Glens the week after next.
October 19, 2010 3:59 pm
Mr. Mysterious says
Considering Pembroke’s mass exodus of quality players over the summer and some of the additional quality that they still left in Ireland last weekend, I think they did a great job. They were always up against in their second match against HGC & were relatively competitive for a lot of the game.
Also – well done to Butler & Magee playing for Dragons. Great match with 6 pretty phenomenal goals in their 4-2 win over defending champs UHC.
Best of luck to The Glens too on Fri & Sat week in Terrassa.