Garvey out to avenge Kirk defeat in Senior Cup opener

Sean Murray slams home Lisnagarvey's fourth goal of the afternoon against Instonians on Saturday. Pic: Rowland White / PressEye

They host Annadale at Comber Road tomorrow (Saturday - pass-back 2.45pm) in the opening round.

Annadale, of course, inflicted a Cup defeat on Lisnagarvey as recently as Boxing Day, when they snatched the Kirk Cup in Hillsborough on penalty strokes.

Garvey last won the Senior Cup back in 2007 and Head Coach Errol Lutton is hoping they’ll take the first step to another success this weekend, although Annadale have been bolstered by a couple of notable summer signings.

“It’s another difficult game against a team in the top five in Ulster,” he said. “Annadale are a very good team with current Irish internationals and U21 internationals along with a few experienced players with former internationals David Smyth and Chris Jackson back in action this year.”

After that, they travel to Instonians on Tuesday, this time in the Kirk Cup.

Garvey go into the games off the back of a 6-2 victory over the Shaws Bridge side, their first league win of the season. Lutton reckons it’s just rewards after a tough start.

“We have been playing well against some good teams,” he said.

“We lost by the odd goal in seven to Banbridge and we did well against Cookstown but we created plenty of chances in that match.

“It would have been different if we hadn’t been playing well. All we did was keep working hard in training.

“A few things just came together for us on Saturday and to score six goals against an Instonians team who are traditionally very hard to play against, especially at their own ground, was great.”

Simply having to win the game to keep in touch with league leaders Banbridge, Garvey got off to a great start with an unstoppable penalty corner from Timmy Cockram but their early advantage was annulled when ex Garvey man Stuart McNiece equalised within a minute.

The visitors were beginning to string a number of very good moves together and after 15 minutes, regained the lead with a Greg Thompson goal from close range. Daniel Buser added a third after 22 minutes and just before half-time, Sean Murrray scored a fourth to leave Garvey comfortable leaders at the break.

The man on form so far this season, Andy Forrest got number five and in the dying minutes, James Lorimer added the sixth before Instonians scored a consolation second.