Armagh Men’s Hockey Club welcomed 10 visiting teams from across Ireland and Scotland to Ardmore Recreation Centre this month for their annual Phil Homan Memorial Tournament to compete for The Rutledge Cup.
Teams would get underway playing in two groups to reach the knockout stage of the Tournament.
Armagh’s own team started slowly with a heavy defeat to Dublin opposition, Railway Union, but would show their class in the local derby game v Portadown, but Armagh just missed out on the Quarter Finals by one point in the end and left the tournament early.
Teams also included the likes of Portrane, Avoca, Bray, Pembroke, Banbridge and Uddingston.
Pembroke, Bray, Railway Union and Banbridge making it through to the semi finals and a chance of winning The Rutledge Cup.
Pembroke beat Railway Union 1–0 and Bray v Banbridge finished 0 – 0 and went to a shoot-out with Bray taking the victory 3–2. It would be an all Dublin Final with Pembroke v Bray.
The game started slowly with both teams showing nerves and trying to find the right pass to make the difference. A battle to the end where it ended 0–0 with Bray very unfortunate not to win it in the dying seconds only for Pembroke goalkeeper to make some vital saves to keep his team in it.
Pembroke started with a fine goal and then Bray couldn’t get past an excellent Pembroke goalkeeper in the shoot-out.
Pembroke were 2–0 up but Bray fought back to bring it to 2–1 after three. Pembroke made it 3–1 before their goalkeeper made a great save to win his team the final and The Rutledge Cup for 2024.
Player of the Tournament – Charlie Trotte, Railway Union – winning a new Naked Hockey Dream, 100% carbon hockey stick.
Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Brain Nugent, Pembroke Wanderers – winning an OBO Hockey goalkeeper goodie bag.
The Homan family where present again this year to hand over The Rutledge Cup to winners Pembroke Wanderers
With upwards of 140 boys playing hockey and enjoying the day and the spectacular weather in Armagh, this tournament is quickly becoming one of the stand out Tournaments in Ireland.
