Fermoy were last night all but promoted to the women’s Division 1, but must play off against Catholic Institute to determine the destination of the Division 2 title following a dramatic night at Rosbrien.
They didn’t make the Irish Hockey League semi-finals, but Catholic Institute took plenty of personal satisfaction in a 3-2 defeat of UCD which also ruined the students’ title hopes at Rosbrien on Saturday.
Barring an avalanche of goals for Cork C of I and a YMCA slip-up at TRR, Munster sides will play peripheral roles once more as the business end of the Irish Hockey League pool stage rolls around.
Cork Harlequins put themselves in pole position to retain their Munster men’s title and sent UCC into the Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs for the first time with a 3-0 victory over Bandon at a drenched Farmer’s Cross tonight.
With the exception of Quins’ 3-0 win over local rivals UCC, Munster’s Irish Hockey League sides – including Catholic Institute, above – were whitewashed this weekend to likely leave the province without a semi-final representative for a second successive season.
Cork Church of Ireland’s domination of the Munster leagues and cups below senior level continued as they claimed both the Munster Junior Cup and Cork Cup at Farmer’s Cross yesterday.
After a five-month hiatus, the IHL returns to action for the penultimate round of fixtures which are likely to prove pivotal for Munster’s leading lights.
Brothers Andrew and Roger Gray once again saved their best for Belfield as UCC won their first ever national senior club title in men’s hockey with a rousing 3-1 Irish Hockey Trophy final victory over Raphoe yesterday.
Catholic Institute’s women and Cork Harlequins’ men claimed the Munster Senior Cups at Garryduff on Saturday, both winning tight encounters by the odd goal in three.
It’s squeaky bum time for many in Irish hockey this weekend as a slew of league titles and cups are up for grabs across the country. It’s Munster Senior Cup day down south, while UCC are among those in search of national silverware while both the Leinster men’s and women’s Division One league titles will be won tomorrow.
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