Newry Olympic 2-1 NICS

It was the long-awaited return of competitive hockey on Saturday after the 2019/2020 season was cut short way back in March.

It started well as Newry came away with all three points vs Civil Service, but it was far from plain sailing for the home side.

It was a hot day and the pitch was playing slowly which led to a disjointed start from both sides, neither were able to make inroads of any note in the first quarter. In the 2nd quarter Civil Service did start to apply more pressure and forced a number of short corners, however they found Richie Henning in the Olympic goal making his debut in top form as he was equal to anything fired at him.

Newry started the second half brightly and, in a breakaway, another debutant Andrew Shekleton, had a fierce reverse stick shot saved by the keeper only for Keith McWilliams to react first and bundle the ball over the line.

Civil Service again pushed forward and when Newry were reduced to 10 men, they got the equaliser late in the third quarter.

In the final quarter both teams fired everything at it, with the game ebb and flowing. However, it was Newry’s determination at the final whistle to force a short corner which another debutant, Peter McKnight converted with the last hit of the game.

Newry Olympic

R. Henning, J. Gregg, C. Henning, M. Russell, A. Baird, J. Taylor, P. McKnight, N. Davenport, A. Irwin, K. Fletcher, K. McWilliams, R. Irwin, J. Greer (Capt), I. Steen, K. McCombe, A. Shekleton