On an afternoon of high drama at the Mardyke, College finally beat C of I at the sixth attempt and in the cruellest of fashions after a dour and tense game had finished scoreless following extra-time.

Olden saved low to her right from Mel Ryan and Sinéad Connery, after the latter’s sister Áine had been fortunate to see her scuffed effort trickle past a wrong-footed Orla McCarthy.

Ali O’Connor, Julia O’Halloran and Audrey O’Flynn all fired their efforts home emphatically to spark an outpouring of emotion for College, who had lost last year’s MSC final to C of I on a golden goal.

UCC goalkeeper Karen Olden, seen here watching a shot from Catholic Institute's Rosie Pratt earlier this season, saved two penalty strokes against C of I. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

But it was an afternoon of mixed emotions for O’Halloran. She accidentally caught team-mate Hollie Moffett in the face with the ball from a raised free seven minutes after half-time, a freakish injury that saw the Irish international star taken to hospital with a suspected broken cheekbone.

O’Halloran channelled her emotions in admirable fashion thereafter, taking over the running of the College midfield in Moffett’s absence. She was everywhere as others tired late on, before keeping up her end of the bargain come stroke time by confidently rifling her effort into the corner of the net.

Moffett had an industrious first 20 minutes as College started better, but the students were fortunate to get the rub of the green from umpires Philip Shine and Andrew Gray throughout, particularly when two credible C of I short corner shouts were waved away.

Both sides were penetrating the circle at will – C of I via a slick passing game, while College used the dribbling ability of Áine Connery and Miriam Crowley up the middle – but shots on goal were strangely at a premium, as were short corners.

C of I finally got the game’s first set-piece chance on 31 minutes, Michaela Mihailou dummying her way past the runners to get a clean sight of goal, but Olden saved neatly.

College forced their only short corner of the entire 85 minutes just before half-time, but McCarthy was equal to O’Flynn’s high drag-flick.

C of I by far played the better hockey in the second half, with College understandably shaken by the unfortunate injury to Moffett. Deirdre Casey emerged as the game’s stand-out performer, as she and Amy Roberts helped create three half-chances for Julie O’Sullivan, but she couldn’t get any clean strikes on target under pressure from Orla Crowley and Áine Donegan.

When Áine Connery was yellow-carded for taking out a rampaging Mihailou from behind with nine minutes to go, the scene looked set for C of I to break College hearts late on once more.

But the closest they came was a Roberts reverse which crept harmlessly wide, and though they edged a tension-filled extra-time too, O’Flynn got a superb short corner block on Ryan to snuff out the Garryduff girls’ best chance.

Sisters Sinéad and Áine Connery, seen here in a game earlier this season, had mixed fortunes in a tension-filled penalty shootout. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Mihailou buried C of I’s first stroke to set the tone for the shootout, and the psychological advantage look to have swung C of I’s way when a nerve-riddled Áine Connery needed three attempts to take College’s first.

Her eventual effort was botched, but McCarthy had gone the wrong way. Olden did her part by saving from Ryan and Sinéad Connery – though she had no chance with Casey’s effort – but the College trio of O’Connor, O’Halloran and O’Flynn never looked like missing, and it proved enough for a 4-2 win.

College will now take on Catholic Institute, who dispatched Ashton 2-0 thanks to goals from Aoife Roisín Burke and Aoife Kenny.

Burke gave the visitors the lead on five minutes when she intercepted in midfield and her shot squirmed past Vanessa Sargent. Ashton had the better of things thereafter but found Ciara Ronan in inspired form between the sticks for Institute, who made it safe ten minutes from time though Kenny.

While the students will start as favourites on paper on the evidence of their 3-1 win earlier this season, they will have to travel to Limerick for the February 28 encounter.

Things were far more straightforward for Cork Harlequins, who handed Belvedere an 11-0 thrashing in Ballincollig. Karen Bateman was in imperious form, claiming five goals, while Cliodhna Sargent bagged a double, with Hilary Chapple, Rachel McSharry, Emily O’Leary and Tracy Johnston also on target.

Quins, determined to win back the MSC having surrendered it last season following 12 consecutive wins, will now host Bandon in the semi-finals. The west Cork side progressed without hitting a ball, after they were given a walkover from UL.

Karen Bateman (left) netted five times for Quins against Belvedere. Picture: Adrian Boehm

In the only two top-level men’s games of the weekend, Quins A and B completed a decent day’s work for the club with wins over Bandon and UCC respectively.

Two Dan Hobbs strikes – the first a drag-flick in the first minute – and a Mark Black goal did the damage for Quins A in a 3-1 league win, with Clinton Sweetnam replying for Bandon.

Quins B progressed to the semi-finals of the Charity Cup with a 7-1 win over UCC that wasn’t as straightforward as the scoreline seems.

College took an early lead through Mark Barry only for Greg McClelland to cancel it out, before Quins were awarded a penalty stroke for an over-zealous stick tackle.

Brian Hayes-Curtin did the necessary from the spot, but College’s Graham Jeffery took his protestations too far, earning two yellow cards that turned into a red one in the process.

It was still 2-1 at the break as Quins B were largely out of sorts, but they plundered some early second-half goals and College went to pieces, with Eddie Dore, Colin Ross, Thomas Cotter, Phil O’Driscoll and Wes Bateman all getting on the scoresheet.

In the only other game of the day, C of I A defeated C of I B 2-0 in the women’s Division Five.

C of I's Grace Young (front) and Suzy Herbert celebrate Mel Ryan's opening goal against UCC last month. The Garryduff girls will be looking to record their sixth straight win over College this weekend. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Another chapter in what has become one of the most enduring rivalries in Irish club hockey will be written today when Cork Church of Ireland and UCC meet in the quarter-finals of the women’s Munster Senior Cup at Garryduff (2pm).

An open draw for the tournament has resulted in last year’s finalists meeting again at the first hurdle this time around, with history weighing heavy on the students’ minds.

College will feel they owe C of I one, as the Rochestown girls have won the sides’ last five encounters by a single goal.

Their most recent meeting on December 20 saw C of I’s Mel Ryan hit a last-ditch winner, after College had recovered from 2-0 down to level it up.

That win put a serious dent in College’s league ambitions and revived C of I’s, following their 2-0 loss to champions and leaders Cork Harlequins earlier this term.

C of I also annexed their first Munster Senior Cup in three decades at College’s expense last season, with Rebecca Sweetnam’s golden goal the only strike of the game, and there will be little love lost between the sides this afternoon.

The hosts go into the clash slightly under-strength. Forwards Suzy Herbert and Lauragh O’Neill are currently out of the country, while new signing Jennifer Kenefick, who arrived from Railway Union, is unable to take her place at centre-back having not played the requisite number of league games.

The same applies to another talented central defender, Jenifer Hales,  who has resumed training in recent weeks after taking a year out for personal reasons.

College coaches Denis Pritchard and Paidi Hartnett won’t have a full deck to pick from either; captain Jean Long is abroad while defender Sarah Gray is in the final stages of recovery from a long-term knee injury.

Elsewhere, UL have given Bandon a walkover in one of the other quarter-finals, as they are unable to field a team with the academic term yet to begin.

Sisters Áine (left) and Sinéad Connery will do battle once more. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

In the other two ties, Catholic Institute will be favourites to oust Ashton despite having to travel.

But the Rosbrien girls didn’t have it all their own way in a league encounter with the Division One basement side before Christmas, winning by the odd goal in three.

Nonetheless, they should have enough firepower in the form of that day’s goalscorers Kym Daly and Naomi Carroll, along with Rosie Pratt, to claim a spot in the last four.

The same applies to Cork Harlequins, who head to Ballincollig to take on Belvedere. This is the most mismatched tie on paper, with Quins in their familiar position at the top of the table while Belvedere are at the wrong end.

But if the hosts can show some strength in resolve by frustrating Quins and prevent them from scoring early, it may be an uncomfortable afternoon for the defending league champions.

There’s a repeat of the Peard Cup final in the men’s Division One as Quins meet Bandon at Harlequin Park, with the west Cork men determined to have another crack at the city side after narrowly going down 1-0 on St Stephen’s Day.

That game is likely to be Geert Fromme’s last for Quins, as the Erasmus student is set to return to Holland later this month. Fromme has had an interesting soujourn in Cork, having been instrumental in his side’s 4-2 win over rivals C of I, while he helped CIT to the final of the intervarsities.

Meanwhile, UCC will be hoping to overturn a surprise 8-1 hammering at the hands of Quins B when the sides clash in the Charity Cup. A flood of second-half goals put paid to the students’ hopes before Christmas, and they will be mindful of not yielding once again to a side they are likely to be battling with at the wrong end of Division One.

In Division Two, Galway can finally resume their promotion bid after a series of postponements left them inactive for more than two months. They put their 100% record on the line at Belvedere.

UCC's Orla Crowley gets low to tackle Cork C of I's Julie O'Sullivan. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Melanie Ryan capped a memorable week that saw her called up to the Ireland A squad by bagging a double that propelled Cork Church of Ireland back into the title race with a 3-2 win over rivals UCC on Saturday.

Ryan fired home off a short corner switch early on before Julie O’Sullivan deflected the ball home on the stroke of half-time following Michaela Mihailou’s surging run.

But College, who have seen league and cup ambitions scuppered by C of I in recent seasons, were a different side on the resumption and quickly wiped out C of I’s advantage.

Ali O’Regan deflected home Audrey O’Flynn’s ball at the back post off a well-worked short corner, before repeating the trick minutes later after Áine Connery had wreaked havoc down the left.

But Ryan struck in the final minutes, her short corner slap finding the net via O’Flynn’s stick, to break College hearts once again.

With Cork Harlequins winning 1-0 at home to Bandon thanks to a Cliodhna Sargent strike, they now lead the way by six points, but both College and C of I have games in hand.

Elsewhere, Naomi Carroll and Kym Daly halted Catholic Institute’s recent slump by scoring in a 2-1 win over Ashton, with Ailse Holland scoring for the hosts.

There were big wins for leaders C of I and basement boys Quins B in the men’s league. C of I hammered Catholic Institute 11-0 with Jonny Bruton claiming a hat-trick, while John Jermyn, Andy Herbert and Adam Pritchard were on target twice each.

Quins' Cliodhna Sargent goes for broke against Bandon. Picture: Rob Hobbs

Dutchman Geert Fromme was the other hat-trick hero of the weekend as Quins B picked up their first win of the season in emphatic style, hammering UCC 8-1.

C of I C are now six points clear at the top of Division Two after dispatching Bandon B 2-0 on Friday night, but they are still likely to face a stern challenge from Galway, who haven’t played in weeks but still have three wins from three, and have as many games in hand.

In Division Three, Catholic Institute B had little difficulty seeing off Belvedere B 5-0, while things were even easier for Midleton, who recorded a 13-0 win – the biggest margin of victory in all three divisions this season – over a depleted UCC B.

The women’s Division Two saw Quins’ resurgence continue with a 1-0 win over Institute, while C of I were easy 5-1 winners over Ashton. Shirleen Rowntree hit Bandon’s winner as they ousted UCC 1-0.

Dungarvan scored a notable 2-1 win at Quins in Division Three, while South East U18 player Faye Loughnane was once again among the goals as Waterford defeated Fermoy 2-0.

More photos from UCC vs C of I and Quins vs Bandon available here

Áine Connery struck in the opening and closing minutes in a memorable win for UCC. Picture: Adrian Boehm

UCC blew the title race wide open in the Munster women’s senior league Division One with a stunning 3-0 win over champions Cork Harlequins at the Mardyke earlier tonight.

Early goals from Audrey O’Flynn and Áine Connery helped College — who handed Quins their first league defeat in eight seasons last term — on their way to a famous victory, before Connery put the icing on the cake later on.

While last season’s 1-0 victory had come about via a fortuitous goal from Jean Long, there was no doubting that the students fully deserved this one, as they look to wrest the title from Harlequin Park for the first time since 1995.

The result means the league is a three-horse race once more, as Quins, C of I and UCC have now all lost once, though Quins maintain a three-point advantage at the summit, having played a game more.

While College’s 1-0 defeat to C of I last month suggested they might not be part of the final shake-up this term, this win has put them right back on track. The Mardyke girls’ fate is likely to be decided this side of Christmas however, as they must host C of I and travel to Quins on successive weekends next month.

Quins never hit the highs of their 2-0 league victory over C of I in October, but they can rightly feel they have been disadvantaged by a fixture schedule that has robbed them of their Irish international players for their two biggest league games of the season so far.

While Eimear Cregan is still troubled by a foot injury that ruled her out of tonight’s clash, Quins were also without Cliodhna Sargent due to the proximity of the weekend’s international series, and Yvonne O’Byrne was also absent.

It took them less than 15 minutes to settle at the Mardyke, but by that time, College were already two goals to the good. O’Flynn set the students on their way in the fifth minute, hammering home after a short corner switch, before Connery’s deflection from the penalty spot seven minutes later doubled their advantage.

A shell-shocked Quins side gradually played their way back into contention and improved in the second half, forcing two short corners, but they couldn’t find a way past College netminder Karen Olden.

Eibhlín O’Donoghue thought she’d finished the job when she found the net from a short corner move with ten minutes remaining, but the goal was correctly chalked off as her shot failed to hit the backboard.

However, it mattered little as Connery put the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time, deflecting the ball past Amy O’Neill in a copycat fashion of her first strike.

C of I’s profligacy in front of goal looked like it would cost them once more as the game seemed headed for a stalemate, but Grace Young popped up to grab a winner with three minutes to go.

Young was presented with one of the few clear-cut opportunities of the game after Deirdre Casey had taken advantage of a misdirected Emily Kenefick clearance, and she cracked the ball into Karen Olden’s bottom corner to seal all three points.

Sister act: UCC's Aine Connery checks on injured elder sibling Sinead (Cork C of I). Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

It was no more than the hosts deserved, having stifled the students in midfield via some superb disruption work from skipper Sandra Hackett and Michaela Mihailou, while they also annihilated College 8-1 on the short corner count.

A combination of circumstances had led to the match hitting off at 10.30am – delayed half an hour due to a partially frozen pitch – which did little to draw the crowds to what should have been the biggest game of the weekend. Which was just as well, given this clash never hit the heights it promised on paper.

The first half was a sluggish affair, as College in particular seemed to be having trouble wiping the sleep from their eyes. The expected backlash from their mid-week intervarsities final defeat never materialised, with Irish international midfield duo Hollie Moffett and Julia O’Halloran both unusually subdued.

This was all the stranger given College owned the ball for the opening five minutes, with Áine Connery beating four players with a trademark run and Ali O’Regan forcing a smart save from the returning C of I netminder Orla McCarthy.

But it was one-way traffic thereafter, with Hackett and Mihailou – backed up by some smart distribution from Casey and Rebecca Murphy – cutting out most College attacks at the source.

Once again, however, C of I’s finishing and set-piece work let them down, troubling Olden just once with six first-half penalty corners, two of which were blocked down by Audrey O’Flynn, who picked up a nasty knock to the knee for her troubles.

Cork C of I's Sandra Hackett shields the ball from UCC's Audrey O'Flynn. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Julie O’Sullivan should have given C of I the lead in the 30th minute, when she pick-pocketed Moffett and found herself one-on-one with Olden.

But she could only fire straight at the College keeper, much to the frustration of team-mate Suzy Herbert, who was standing unmarked for a tap-in a couple of yards away.

O’Halloran’s frustration boiled over in the 34th minute, as she hammered the ball into the fence after conceding a free, and gave up a short corner in the process.

The red mist also descended on College skipper Moffett, who was sin-binned in the 45th minute for crassly felling Casey from behind, but the students found some form in her absence.

First, O’Flynn’s 60-yard aerial found O’Regan, who played a neat one-two with Connery but couldn’t get a clean strike in. Minutes later, Aine Donegan did well to pick out Connery, but her powerful reverse flew across goal.

Both sides were guilty of flashing balls across the circle when there was no-one on the far post to take advantage, and it looked to be heading for a draw when College finally won a short on 63 minutes.

There was a sense of inevitability as College lined up for the set-piece, as if they were about to steal the win from under the noses of the hosts, but O’Flynn’s drag-flick – a weapon which has caused plenty of damage this term – was straight at McCarthy.

UCC's Audrey O'Flynn takes a tumble over Cork C of I's Michaela Mihailou. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

O’Flynn was still proving to be College’s best creative outlet as they pressed for a win, but C of I had other plans, and Young finally broke the deadlock with a neat finish past Olden on 67 minutes.

Miriam Crowley almost rescued a draw for College in the dying seconds, but McCarthy was equal to the task, and Hackett finished the clearance job to ensure the points stayed in Rochestown.

CORK C OF I: O McCarthy (GK); M Ryan, R Murphy, R Sweetnam, S Connery; S Hackett (capt), M Mihailou, D Casey; J O’Sullivan, A Roberts, S Herbert.

Rolling subs: G Young, S Delaney, L O’Neill.

UCC: K Olden (GK); A O’Connor, O Crowley, A O’Flynn, J Long; E O’Donoghue, H Moffett, J O’Halloran; A Connery, A O’Regan, M Crowley.

Rolling subs: E Kenefick, A Donegan, F O’Connell.

Umpires: J Beamish & Z Howe.

While leagues are, of course, never won before Christmas, if College have genuine aspirations of breaking the dominance of Quins and C of I, these are the games they must start to win, and they will be keen to lay down a marker.

They fared exceptionally well against Quins last term, taking four points off them in two games and becoming the first team to beat them in domestic competition in eight years in the process.

Deirdre Casey's battle with former team-mate Hollie Moffett will be one of many intriguing sub-plots. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

But their failure to win any of their three clashes with C of I last term effectively ruined their season; the 1-0 and 2-1 league losses essentially cost them an automatic Irish Hockey League place, while the golden goal Munster Senior Cup final loss hurt even more.

C of I can therefore be guaranteed a highly-charged contest, especially so given College will be looking to blow off some steam after the varsities.

As well as suffering at the hands of their other bogey team, UCD, the varsities proved to be a chastening experience physically too, with a number of players suffering injuries.

But College aren’t the only ones with plenty of motivation for this encounter. C of I exorcised some of the demons of their 2-0 league loss to Quins earlier this month by defeating Randalstown in the IHL, but the Garryduff girls have been kicking their heels for two weeks since.

They will also be keen to make a statement of their own – namely that there isn’t about to be a changing of the guard at the business end of Munster hockey.

Both sides still have worries on the goalscoring front, however. While 11 goals in six varsity games seems like a decent return for College, UCD were far more prolific – 23 goals scored, and, remarkably, none conceded.

That ruthlessness earned them a straightforward semi-final against Trinity, while College needed extra-time to see off Ulster Elks 3-2, and those exertions can’t have helped their cause in the final later that day.

Given the goalscoring potential in the team – Audrey O’Flynn, Eibhlin O’Donoghue and Ali O’Connor all present threats at short corner time, while Ali O’Regan, Julia O’Halloran and Aine Connery have proven records from play – it’s a mystery as to why they still haven’t fully unlocked it.

C of I’s problem is of a different nature; they have little difficulty troubling the scoreboard against the weaker teams – witness the 12 goals racked up against Ashton and Belvedere – but the goals dry up when they are presented with capable opposition.

Quins ruthlessly exposed this weakness a few weeks ago, their clinical finishing a total contrast to C of I’s inefficiency up front.

It was the same story against Randalstown, as countless opportunities went begging due to wasteful finishing or a poor final pass, until Mel Ryan eventually made one count from a corner. They will be hoping the passes start to stick this weekend.

Ali O'Regan has scored in both UCC's league games so far. Picture: Adrian Boehm

A further intriguing sub-plot should unfold in midfield, where young pretender Hollie Moffett goes head-to-head with relative veteran Deirdre Casey.

The latter bounced back from a difficult afternoon against Rachael Kohler by showing her class against Randalstown, making intelligent use of the auto-pass rule and producing surging runs that the northerners found hard to handle.

Moffett’s brief is slightly different however; she acts as a fulcrum to release Connery and O’Halloran into space, and is admirably effective when facing her own goal, demanding the ball from her defence before turning and finding the right pass to get her team moving.

A similarly contrasting dynamic exists in the style of College’s O’Donoghue and C of I skipper Sandra Hackett, ensuring the battleground between the 25s should be worth the admission alone.

It will also be interesting to see what role C of I coach Phil Oakley hands Grace Young. Noted for her own rampages along the wings, her pace may be an effective method of shackling Connery, who also has a fondness for patrolling the touchlines.

There was never more than a goal between these two last year, and that’s not likely to change this weekend; it may come down to who wants it more. That would suggest a College victory, but C of I have the upper hand psychologically; it’s too tight to call, so let’s sit back and watch the fireworks instead.

UCC keeper Phil Lecane gets low to save a shot against Trinity. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Cork Institute of Technology have one foot in the semi-finals of the Mauritius Cup intervarsities after disposing of Ulster Elks and Queens University Belfast in Kilkenny yesterday.

Alastair Smith’s double gave them a vital 2-1 win over title-holders the Elks, who were missing their Irish internationals Eugene Magee and Geoff McCabe.

Later in the day, John Hobbs and Stephen Parker both claimed braces as CIT routed Queens 5-2, ensuring that barring an unlikely collapse against UL this morning, they will make the last four.

UCD put themselves in pole position to advance from the other side of the draw, racking up 17 goals in two games in wins over the Royal College of Surgeons (12-0) and UCC (5-1), with Robbie McFarlane and Luke McSharry sharing nine of the Belfield side’s strikes.

UCC bounced back admirably from that defeat to grab a 1-1 draw with Trinity, with Richard ‘Dickie’ Barrett cancelling out Henry Butler’s opener.

But unless they can post a shock win over DCU — who welcome back Irish international trio Conor and David Harte and Alan Sothern today — progression looks unlikely.

The Mardyke outfit’s female counterparts — who are gunning for their third Chilean Cup title in a row — are well on their way to the last four after two wins yesterday, with Áine Connery grabbing two on her return from a hand injury.

Laura Peters of University of Limerick (right) celebrates her goal against CIT. Picture: Adrian Boehm

They posted a 2-0 defeat of NUIG thanks to goals in each half from Connery and Fiona O’Connell, before easing to a 3-0 win over UL with goals from Connery, Eibhlín O’Donoghue, before Audrey O’Flynn roofed a drag.

Their most vital game arrives today when they take on UCD, who they defeated 2-1 in last year’s final, in what is likely to be a straight shoot-out for top spot in the pool.

However, CIT are already out of the running, with the Bishopstown college — who saw a plethora of players withdraw due to injury and unavailability during the week — suffering heavy defeats to UL (3-0) and UCD (9-0), though they improved significantly in a 2-1 loss to NUIG.

But UL are by no means out of it yet. If they can defeat NUIG tomorrow morning, they will go into their evening game against UCD knowing exactly what they need to do to qualify, irrespective of the result of the earlier UCC/UCD clash.

That the Belfield girls will be playing their third match of the day, may also count in the Limerick university’s favour.

In the other women’s pool, favourites Ulster Elks lead the way with two wins from two, while Trinity and Queens, with three points apiece, are likely to be fighting it out for the second qualification spot.

Meanwhile, Three Rock Rovers moved to the top of the table in Leinster despite looking anything but impressive in a 2-0 win over Kilkenny.

UCC's Julia O'Halloran challenges an NUIG player in the rain in Kilkenny. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Rovers now have ten points from four games, with perennial rivals Pembroke Wanderers still stuck in mid-table after they were held 1-1 at Fingal, for whom Adrian Sweeney was on target for the fifth game running.

Monkstown captain Gareth Watkins was forced to serve a team sin-bin after his side got their substitutions in a muddle and ended up with 12 players on the pitch against Glenanne.

But Watkins had the last word when he cancelled out Stephen Butler’s opener to secure a 1-1 draw for the Glenageary outfit, who could have won had Ian Allen’s penalty stroke not hit an upright.

In the women’s league, Railway Union stayed top despite having the weekend off, after champions Hermes and Pembroke played out a 3-3 draw, while Irish international forward Cathy McKean bagged a hat-trick in Loreto’s facile 8-0 defeat of Corinthians.

In Ulster, Banbridge drew for the third successive game, though they will be the happier given the 2-2 result halted champions Cookstown’s early march.

Instonians’ woes continued with a 3-2 defeat to Bangor, but Ian Hamilton’s triple gave Annadale a 3-1 win over Raphoe, while Lisnagarvey were 2-0 winners at Mossley.

Ballymoney were the big losers in the women’s league, going down 2-1 at Ards, while Pegasus routed Victorians 6-1.

Intervarsities, Kilkenny (Day 1)

Mauritius Cup (Men)

Pool A: RCSI 0 Trinity 8; UCC 1 UCD 5; DCU 11 RSCI 1; Trinity 1 UCC 1; UCD 12 RSCI 0.

Standings

1 UCD 2-6 (+16)
2 DU 2-4pts (+8)
3 DCU 1-3pts (+10)
4 UCC 2-1pt (-4)
5 RCSI 3-0pts (-30)

Pool B: Queens 2 CIT 5; UL 1 Ulster Elks 7; CIT 2 Ulster Elks 1;

1 CIT 2-6pts (+4)
2 UU 2-3pts (+5)
3 QUB 1-0pts (-3)
4 UL 1-0pts (-6)

Chilean Cup (Women)

Pool A: Ulster Elks 2 Queens 1; DCU 1 RCSI 0; Trinity 0 Ulster Elks 1; Trinity 8 RCSI 0; DCU 0 Queens 4.

1 UU 2-6pts (+2)
2 DU 2-3pts (+7)
3 QUB 2-3pts (+3)
4 DCU 2-3pts (-3)
5 RCSI 2-0pts (-9)

Pool B: CIT 0 UL 3; CIT 0 UCD 9; CIT 1 NUIG 2; UCC 2 NUIG 0; UCC 3 UL 0.

1 UCC 2-6pts (+5)
2 UCD 1-3pts (+9)
3 NUIG 2-3pts (-1)
4 UL 2-3pts (0)
5 CIT 2-0pts (-10)

CIT's Cliodhna Sargent runs into traffic against UL. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Today

Men’s Pool A: DCU vs Trinity (Kilkenny College, 8.30am); RCSI vs UCC (Kilkenny College, 9.45am); Trinity vs UCD (Loreto Kilkenny, 11am); DCU vs UCC (Kilkenny College, 1.30pm); DCU vs UCD (Loreto Kilkenny, 4pm).

Pool B: CIT vs UL (Kilkenny College, 9.45am); UL vs Queens (Loreto Kilkenny, 12.15pm); Ulster Elks vs Queens (Kilkenny College, 5pm).

Women’s Pool A: Trinity vs Queens (Loreto Kilkenny, 8.30am); DCU vs Ulster Elks (Loreto Kilkenny, 8.45am); RCSI vs Ulster Elks (Kilkenny College, 12.15pm); DCU vs Trinity (Kilkenny College, 4pm); RCSI vs Queens (Kilkenny College, 5pm).

Pool B: NUIG vs UCD (Kilkenny College, 8.30am); CIT vs UCC (Kilkenny College, 11am); NUIG vs UL (Kilkenny College, 1.30pm); UCD vs UCC (Loreto Kilkenny, 1.30pm); UCD vs UL (Loreto Kilkenny, 5pm).

In the men’s Division One, Catholic Institute will be looking to build on last weekend’s 2-1 win over Cork Harlequins B when they visit the Mardyke to take on UCC.

Cork Harlequins C and UCC, seen here clashing in Division Two last season, are both in action this weekend. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

However, the Cork students will be targeting their first win of the season, after showing signs in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Bandon that they are finding their feet in the top tier.

In Division Two, Galway will be looking to maintain their 100% start to their promotion push when they host Cork Harlequins C.

The westerners, who slammed six past Bandon C a fortnight ago have benefitted significantly from the return from UCD of Darragh Curley, who has hit four goals in his first two games, while in keeper Aaron Leonowicz they have one of the best young stoppers around.

Meanwhile, the women’s Examiner Cup gets underway this weekend, with four of the five sides involved. The competition was included in the calendar to ensure the lesser lights of Division One aren’t left idle on IHL weekends.

There’s a repeat of last weekend’s league fixture as Bandon take on Belvedere, though the west Cork side will have home advantage this time around, while Ashton host UL. UCC have a weekend off as they continue their intervarsity preparations ahead of their defence of the Chilean Cup in Kilkenny at the end of the month.

Their seconds are in action in Division Two however, making the trip across town to play C of I, while Ashton and Bandon are in action against Catholic Institute and Moyne/Thurles respectively.

Waterford’s top two must both travel down the N25 to take on Cork opposition in Division Three, with Dungarvan visiting Garryduff while Waterford take on Quins at Farmer’s Cross.

Belvedere, who are already four points clear at the summit with three wins from three, will be hoping to make a statement of intent at home to third-placed Fermoy, while Midleton host Clonmel in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

Having lost a promotion/relegation playoff to Bandon B at the end of last season, College were subsequently promoted last month after the Munster Branch approved their request to replace Belvedere, who voluntarily demoted themselves.

While Bandon B’s decision earlier this week to follow Belvedere’s lead has once again left Munster hockey with an uneven top tier of seven teams, College are more concerned with using their return to Division One to cultivate their own academy.

UCC are hoping to put an academy in place in a bid to replicate the success of their women's team. Picture: Dan McClanahan

Such a programme has worked wonders for College’s ladies, who now boast three Irish internationals and a myriad of Munster representatives, and have gone from also-rans to genuine title contenders.

Men’s coach John Dennis, who is also chairman of the Irish Hockey Association (IHA), said College are still finalising their squad for this season, but hope to put the structures in place to compete in the future.

“We’re not looking to take players away from clubs forever, or undermine the existing structures – college is a transition period, and clubs will hopefully get a better player back to them and the end of the academy system,” he said.

“It won’t happen overnight, but it may suit guys who are playing seconds hockey for bigger clubs and have no real incentive aside from the Irish Junior Cup.”

Under the guidance of UCC’s new director of coaching Paidi Hartnett, it is hoped the club can attract Munster and Irish representative players, who may then be incentivised to play college hockey via a sports scholarship.

Meanwhile, Dennis is confident that his players will benefit from taking on last season’s double-winners C of I, who are also opening their campaign and boast the likes of Irish stars John Jermyn and David Hobbs in their side.

“Obviously it’s not the first match you’d want, but it will be an experience for our lads, and they will realise what they’re up against in Division One – the change of pace, style and all that goes with it.

“But that’s what we’re here for, we want to raise the profile of the club and make it a attractive place to play.”

Elsewhere, Bandon go in search of their first points of the new season when they take on Cork Harlequins B at Farmer’s Cross, after their 5-0 win over Bandon B last week was voided due to the latter’s voluntarily relegation.

Catholic Institute are in action twice against C of I B this weekend, firstly in the league at Garryduff tomorrow and then at home in the Peard Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

In the women’s Division One, Bandon will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Quins when they visit Ashton, who have shipped 11 goals in their first two outings, while table-toppers Quins make the trip to Limerick to take on UL and C of I host Belvedere.

UCC get their season underway on Sunday when Catholic Institute visit the Mardyke, a game moved from Saturday due to the students having players involved in Saturday’s open Irish trial at UCD.

Despite pushing C of I hard for second place last term, College will be wary of the dual goalscoring threat posed by Ireland A’s Kym Daly and teen sensation Naomi Carroll, who were both on the mark in the 6-1 rout of Ashton last weekend.

See Fixtures and Results for a full list of this weekend’s games

The students’ proposal to move up from Division Two, first discussed last week, was unanimously approved, and solves a fixture headache in the process. Belvedere’s decision to voluntarily drop a division had left the top tier with just seven teams, creating an obvious problem with one team left without a fixture every week.

UCC's men will have their work cut out to prove they can handle life in Division One. Picture: Dan McClanahan

While the inclusion of College has alleviated that problem, doubts remain over whether they can be competitive in Division One given the yawning gap that already exists between the haves and have-nots in the league. College, who are coached by IHA chairman John Dennis, missed out on promotion at the tail end of last season, losing in a playoff against Bandon B 4-2.

While their female counterparts have benefitted in recent years from the migration of C of I and Quins players to the club, the men have soldiered on while dozens of interprovincial-standard players and the odd Irish international have passed through the college without ever representing the skull and crossbones.

Nonetheless, the return to Division One presents an interesting challenge to Dennis and his players, who will be out to prove they are worth their place at Munster hockey’s top table.

Meanwhile, UCC women’s coach Denis Pritchard has professed himself satisfied with his side’s pre-season trip to England last weekend.

College shipped eight goals in two defeats to Loughborough, going down 5-0 and 3-0, but Pritchard said he was happier to see his side play creatively rather than engaging in damage limitation.

However, the students decided not to fulfill their third fixture against Leicester after a litany of injuries to the likes of Audrey O’Flynn, Orla Crowley and Eibhlin O’Donoghue left them severely short of bodies.

The trip was intended to give College worthwhile pitch-time ahead of the new season, which for them kicks off two weeks later than everyone else when Catholic Institute visit the Mardyke on October 4.

College are notoriously slow starters – last year they lost their first three games, which ultimately cost them an automatic Irish Hockey League slot and dashed any hopes of an Irish Senior Cup run. But if they can hit the ground running this year, they will pose a threat to everyone, with few teams able to boast a midfield containing three Irish internationals.

The students have been paired with Bandon and Belvedere in the new Ladies Examiner Cup competition, which has been split into two pools. Ashton, UL and Catholic Institute will battle it out in the other group, with all fixtures for this competition having been moved from IHL Saturdays at the branch’s request, as have the men’s Charity Cup games.

Elsewhere, Bandon and Quins both appear to have lost a ladies team this season, having withdrawn from Divisions Five and Six respectively. Clonmel have been moved up from Division Six to take the west Cork side’s place.

Aside from UCC and Belvedere’s straight swap between Divisions One and Two, the only other change in the men’s leagues sees Catholic Institute B drop to Division Three. In both the women’s and men’s leagues, Division Three will be split after Christmas, with the lower-ranking teams forming Division Four.