THE CURTAIN came down on a successful Guyana Hockey Board/Farfan and Mendes Men’s first division League for the 2014 season, with champions Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) strolling away with the title after playing unbeaten throughout the competition.Playing in the final match of the league last Wednesday evening, on a smooth GCC Bourda ground, the home team with the title already in the bag, took on the National Under-21 Selection in the final match of competition and secured the trophy on points having beaten all-comers in every match of the two-round competition except for their first-round draw with the National Under-21.

The match proved to be a worthwhile battle for the experienced GCC side, who boasted several former national players, as the National Under-21 executed good midfield, build-up plays in the opening minutes of the match.
GCC had the edge on possession, however, but lost it easily in their attacking third to deft defending by Andrew Stewart and Daniel Hooper in the full back positions for the Under-21 who held their more illustrious opponents to a scoreless first half.
GCC shifted gears in the second half and created a few scoring chances and penalty corners, even as Aroydy Branford kept the Under-21 threat alive with some effective counter-attacking moves but failed to connect with his teammates on the final pass.
With the match seeming to head to a nil-all stalemate, former national captain Alan Fernandes fought through a densely packed defence on the right side before slipping an accurate pass to his brother and GHB president Philip Fernandes on the far side of the goal. The latter delivered the ball into the roof of the net to break the deadlock with six minutes remaining on the clock.
Time expired, leaving GCC the victors of the day and for the competition as the 2014 National men’s hockey champions. The presentation ceremony took place after the game, which saw Marketing Officer of Farfan and Mendes Limited Delyon Josiah do the honours.