Player Interviews
Gareth Lennox - Banbridge

Banbridge need little reminder of their last IHL semi-final. Two years ago, they ultimately fell 5-4 to Glenanne with a controversial goal awarded with the stadium clock suggesting the third quarter should have been ended. It is a decision which still rankles around Havelock Park and could serve as a motivating factor for Bann, according to goalkeeper Gareth Lennox.

“We can’t really blame Glenanne for that, more the officials than anyone else. Fair play to them, they played on but we do feel that we owe them one and felt we deserved to get to that final. We’ve been to semi-finals too many times and not gone on further.

“I think that was the one that hurt the most because, at that stage, we had as strong a squad as any of the rest of the teams – Eugene Magee and Geoff McCabe were there – that season. We gave as good as we got that day and it comes down to an error like that which cost us possibly a place in the final of the IHL.”

Since then, their international stars have moved on to Dragons and Santander to be replaced by a string of young players who have shone in the Banbridge Academy colours. Eleven of the players who won the All-Ireland Schoolboy’s tournament last October have been used at some stage during this campaign with seven in their Irish Senior Cup semi-final selection, most of whom should be back in for this weekend. Their side do have a number of players on the comeback trail, though, after an injury-hit springtime and looking forward to playing Glenanne once more and bouncing back from a chastening Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Monkstown.
“That’s probably the worst we’ve played all season, against Monkstown. It’s a pity it was in an Irish Senior Cup semi-final. We’re fortunate enough we’re the only team in Ireland to get two chances to go for these titles this year and maybe this weekend we can show what we’re capable of.

“The squad will be much the same but the guys will be more hockey under their belt and fighting fit. There were five guys who had just come back and there’s a few who are still not playing much. We’re hoping Scott [McCandless] and Stephen [Dowds] will be fit and ready to go at the weekend.

“Coming back from the EHL, Glenanne’ll be on a buzz. With the disappointment we had in the Irish Senior Cup, we’ll be looking forward to trying to put things right.”

Lennox is also hopeful that his side can become the first Ulster side to get their name on the IHL trophy, ending a recent run of Leinster success in the country’s premier competition.

“The Ulster sides have been there or thereabouts for a number of years but have been unfortunate with Pembroke having so many internationals. With all the internationals now being away, Ulster sides have a strong base to play from and it’s starting to show. Hopefully now, we can do an Ulster one-two and lift an IHL.”

Interview conducted by Stephen Findlater, Freelance Journalist on behalf of the IHA