Perhaps the warmest weather seen all year settled onto the pitch, and the fans began to gather along the coveted sideline real estate. Most couldn’t believe that the season had past by so quickly, and others spoke in hushed tone as if not mentioning the end of the season could prolong it for a time. For the two teams in today’s championship match though, the end of the season was still a grueling sixty minutes away. After much anticipation, the undefeated Brocach Bandits took to the pitch against the Shamrock Club Griffins to decide the 2014 MHC Championship.
Both teams were capable of scoring in multiple ways, and the match-ups on the field ensured scoring would be a tough test on both sides of the pitch. It was Vinny Maloney who struck early for Shamrock Club, though, after intercepting a wayward Brocach clear and slamming it right back down their throats. As play rolled on, it was the Bandits who were moving the ball better, and pressure eventually began to mount on the Griffin defense. Bandit Tony Gilbert soon found himself at the vanguard of the Brocach attack, and snuck a squeaker through the uprights as he almost ran out the back line. Gilbert would follow that performance up with another quick point for his Bandits, thanks in part to teammate Michael “Captain Hook” Dvorak’s strong performance relaying passes up the lines.
Shamrock would point off a free in the midst of an offensive push, but it was countered quickly by Brocach’s goal-getter Alec Fortier as he went for the last second kick to confuse the keeper and nab three more points. Having seen enough blue jerseys near their net, the Griffin defense tightened up effectively after the water break. John “Lindy” Lindstrom was like a Bandit-seeking missile as he roamed the backfield, and Kathleen Maloney and Dave Morrow were working nicely together to shut down Brocach’s attacks.
Shamrocks Surge, but Brocach Endures
by Jason Kirkpatrick