Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Belfast Giants surge to dominant Challenge Cup final win over Fife Flyers

The Belfast Giants retained the Elite League Challenge Cup with a commanding 9-3 win over the Fife Flyers on Wednesday night.

Adam Keefe's side sent a packed SEE Arena wild with a dominant performance on their home rink.

Over 7,000 fans packed into the venue to watch the Giants make it four Challenge Cup wins in the last five years of the competition.

Read more: Watch: Donaghadee teen scores wonder free-kick in league game

Goals from David Goodwin, Donovan Neuls, Staev Owre, Matthew McLeod, Ben Lake, Ciaran Long, Mark Cooper, Grant Cooper and David Gilbert sealed the impressive win. Jonas Emmerdahl, Janne Kivilahti and Janne Lakkonnen got Fife's replies.

Last year it took an overtime winner for the Giants as they overhauled the Cardiff Devils after trailing 2-0.

There was no need for a rousing comeback this time, with the Giants stamping their authority on proceedings with three goals in the first period.

Goodwin broke the deadlock after being teed up by Scott Conway, the goal arriving after Mikael Johansson hit the post for Fife.

Belfast Giants’ David Goodwin celebrates scoring against the Fife Flyers (William Cherry/Presseye)

A breakaway set up the Giants for the second goal, Gabe Bast feeding Neuls who finished in style.

Owre added the third to put the Giants firmly in control, and it was only going to get better in the second period.

The Giants extended their lead after the restart, McLeod reacting quickest to poke the puck home from close distance.

The Flyers got their first score in the second period. The Giants failed to clear their lines and the puck broke to Emmerdahl who fired it past Tyler Beskorowany from the right circle.

Belfast Giants’ Matthew McLeod celebrates scoring against the Fife Flyers (William Cherry/Presseye)

There were some nerves in the home crowd with the Flyers reduced the arrears further, Kivilahti scoring right in front of Beskorowany from Chris Lawrence's pass.

But with seconds remaining in the period, the Giants stamped their authority on proceedings when Lake found the net.

The final continued to ebb and flow, with both teams scoring within seconds of each other at the start of the third period.

A howler from Giants netminder Beskorowany gifted Fife their third goal of the night.

Beskorowany dallied on the puck behind his goal, allowing the Flyers to snatch possession before Lakkonnen finished off.

It was a lifeline for the Flyers, but the Giants dampened any renewed enthusiasm with two goals to extend their lead once again.

Long hammered home from range to make it 6-3 and then Mark Cooper found the mark with another one-time strike past Shane Owen.

It was 8-3 with just six minutes remaining when Grant Cooper found the net, and David Gilbert added the ninth to complete the scoring.

And it wasn't long before the SSE Arena was celebrating another Belfast Giants win in the Challenge Cup

READ NEXT:

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.