Bateman, Black goals secure Munster Senior Cup title for Harlequins
Harlequins players celebrates the win over Catholic Institute in the Mens Munster Senior Cup final at Garryduff. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Harlequins made it three-in-a-row as they won the Munster Men’s Senior Cup final at Garryduff on St Patrick’s Day.
It was far from a vintage display by Quins as they made hard work of it, in a game they were hot favourites to win.
They had to come from behind to win, as for long periods they were finding it difficult to break down a resolute Institute defence.
The Limerick side fought for every ball, and when they took the lead in the first half for long periods, it looked like being the only goal of the game.
But eventually Quins managed to break them down to get the equaliser through Charlie Bateman, one of their up-and-coming stars.
Bateman is just 17 and is already showing signs that, along with others like Julian Dale, William Black and Andrew Dale, Quins are building for the future, and there is a lot more to come from this side.
It should be no great surprise to see Bateman able to finish the way he did, and he certainly has taken advice from his mother in that regard.
His mother is Karen O’Brien, affectionately known as OB for years, and was one of the top forwards to ever play for the club and Ireland.
Despite the win, when Quins look back at this game, there will be aspects of their play they will be far from happy with.
Over the 70 minutes, they had more than 11 penalty corners, and their return from these was poor by the high standards they set themselves.
However, finals are about winning, and that they did in the end to retain their title.
Quins had all the early running with Julian Dale going close early on, and Ross Bailey also having a chance to open the scoring for them.
Quins then had a series of penalty corners and failed to score from any of them, with Jack Stockil making several telling blocks to deny them.
Catholic Institute went close from a penalty corner of their own, with Stockil just wide from a drag flick attempt.
It took until the 27th minute for the first goal to come, and it was the underdogs who got the opening score.
A shot from Christopher Ryan was saved by Iarlaith O’Neill, but the rebound fell to Sean O’Donoghue, and he found the back of the net to put Institute 1-0 up.
Both sides missed chances to score before half-time to see it remain 1-0 at the break.
Institute had a chance to increase their lead early in the second half, with Ryan’s effort going just wide before Quins eventually got themselves back on level terms.
A long ball in from Julian Dale was brought down by Andrew Dale, and his pass across the goal was neatly struck home by Bateman for the equaliser in the 54th minute.
Just three minutes later, and Quins took the lead when William Black, son of another club and Irish stalwart in Jason Black, scored from their 12th penalty corner to make it 2-1.
With minutes remaining Institute took off their keeper to try and get an equaliser, but the Quins defence stood strong as they ran out deserving winners in the end.
Charlie Bateman and William Black.
Sean O’Donoghue.
I O’Neill, J Venner, J Bryan, A Dale, J Dale, R Bailey, S Dale, D Bywater, F Rahilly Scully, D McCarthy, W Black, C Bateman, C Buttimer, C Twomey, J Young.
J McKeogh, F Naughton, J Stockil, R Acheson, H Walsh, D Potts, S O’Donoghue, C Archer, C Ryan, T Moloney, B Smyth, N Erdeljac, Z Hastie, A Sugathan, J Hevey Tynne, D Redondo Colmenar, D McNamara.
Jim Butler and Neil Sandes.
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