THE going was fast and the competition was red hot at Bunclody, Co Wexford, recently for the Dermot Hanniffy Perpetual Cup, the 0-2 Goal tournament between Tyrone and LHK.

Tyrone’s team captain said that the fast game was down to the pristine condition of the ground at Bunclody Polo Club but that wasn’t until after Eamonn Laverty, David McCulla, Dan Laverty and Facundo Matilla won their qualifying match against Bunclody, and LHK’s Colm Kelliher, Siobhan Herbst and brothers John and Pat Flavin put an end to River Slaney’s hopes.

While Bunclody lost in the qualifier to Tyrone on a score of eight goals to four, near neighbour River Slaney scored just two goals against six contributed by LHK.

The final for the Perpetual Cup was definitely a match between two equals, each of the teams nearly matching goal for goal through four chukkas.

“It was two very evenly matched teams and one of the most intense and focused games,” said Eamonn Laverty. “It was tough. There was a wee cut (to the ground), but it was very fast and the teams were up to it.”

Goal scoring was evenly matched as well, each team achieving field goals as well as paying for their mistakes in penalty fouls. Scoring was goal for goal, LHK briefly in the lead during the third chukka until a penalty free hit awarded on interference in a field goal, taken by Facundo Matilla for Tyrone marked the turning point in the final.

Tyrone added one more to their five-goal total to win the high goal tournament while LHK topped out at four goals.

Speaking to The Irish Field after the prize-giving, Bunclody Polo Club President Paddy Casey said that as well as the fast ground, the win for Tyrone was down to fast ponies.

“That was a good final,” said Casey, “a good game. It was all down to pony power. Without the fast ponies, it’s not a fast game.”

The high goal subsidiary final was won by River Slaney on five goals to three, Bunclody ahead only briefly in the second chukka.

After earning their way to the low goal final in the qualifier against Valley Farm, Sixt Rent-a-Car won the -4 to -1 Goal tournament on 5½ goals to 3 for the Paddy Casey Cup, beating Manor Hotel, who had relegated Rits to the subsidiary final.

Rits went on to win the low goal subsidiary final against Valley Farm with a score of six goals to four.