In front of another big crowd under floodlights, Sullivan faced Friends to defend the Burney Cup. The game was cagey with Friends sitting deep and allowing Sullivan to play the ball around the back, and looking for a way through, Friends then hoping to catch Sullivan on the break. Sullivan took the lead through a Paddy Crookshanks drag flick from a penalty corner.
Half-time Sullivan 1 (Crookshanks) v Friends 0
The second half was much more of the same with Sullivan starting the half with lots of pressure on the Friends goal. Friends came back and Sullivan had to work the ball out of defence on a few occasions. The game changed on a controversial decision, Friends had a penalty corner, which was saved on the line, the umpire thought it had hit a foot and gave a penalty stroke, which Friends converted. Sullivan put more pressure on Friends to take the lead, but with 3 minutes left Friends deflected a shot, hit keeper McCord on the face mask and could have ended up anywhere, but ended up in the back of the net. With such little time left Sullivan could not get the elusive second goal.
Final score Sullivan 1 (Crookshanks) v Friends 2
Congratulations for Friends on their win in a very competitive match with good hockey played.
Thanks to the players in year 14 that will be leaving – Captain Fergus Gibson, Tom Robson, Callum Carson, Tom McCord, Fergus Kerr and Sonny Erskine. The remaining players were Paddy Crookshanks, Harry Morris, Matthew Morris, Matthew Willis, Michael Trimble, Daniel Girvin, Patrick Hayley, Issac Hart, Tom McClintock, Djay Erskine and Jamie McAuley.
And a thanks to the coaching staff of Mr Osborne, Mr Roberts and Mr Williamson