Butler drives Glenanne to Paris final

HOCKEY SIX DAYS after his hat-trick won Glenanne the Mills Cup against Pembroke Wanderers at Grange Road, Stephen Butler went one better in the European Club Trophy final in Paris yesterday when his four goals helped the Dublin side to a thrilling, 5-4 victory over CA Montrouge.

Having lost their opening game to Ukrainian club Kolos Sekvoia 2-4, Glenanne went on to top their pool with successive wins over Slavia Praha and Grasshopper Zurich, both by 5-0, to set up yesterday's meeting with their French opponents.

A goal down after two minutes, Glenanne were 2-1 up seven minutes later, with Butler converting two short corners.

Montrouge levelled on 23 minutes, but Butler completed his hat-trick before the break from yet another set-piece.

Pembroke Wanderers' women will attempt to emulate Glenanne's success in the final match of their European Cup Winners Trophy campaign in Ghent today after they won through to the gold medal play-off by making it three wins out of three in their pool.

Pembroke followed up Friday's opening win in their pool (5-1 over Penarth of Wales) with a 2-1 defeat of HC Moscow on Saturday and a 2-0 win over Slavia Praha yesterday, Lorna Hill and Emily MacNicholas getting their goals.

They play Italians CUS Catania today, the winners securing promotion for their country to next season's European Cup Winners Cup.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times