By 3.00pm on Saturday the greyness and murkiness of the previous game had gotten worse. The floodlights only emphasised the heavy rain, as Banbridge 2 met Cookstown 2 in the Ulster Hockey Junior League 1 Cup Final at Stormont.

After an initial sounding out by both teams, Banbridge settled quickly, moving the ball around, creating space and causing Cookstown no end of problems. John McCague struck after 10 minutes, followed by a James Evans penalty stroke on 12 minutes and a David Gallagher goal, following a penalty corner after 14 minutes, put Banbridge up 3-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.

The second quarter was more of the same fare, with Cookstown rarely able to get out of their half. Banbridge spurned numerous . . .