Old Boys comeback gives Quins IHL lifeline

Cork Harlequins were thrown an Irish Hockey League lifeline in the unlikeliest of circumstances as Instonians came from two goals down to defeat Pembroke Wanderers 3-2 in their re-arranged Pool A tie at Shaw’s Bridge on Sunday. Having lost to Pembroke and Glenanne in their opening games, Quins knew a win for the Dubliners today would all but end their already-faint hopes of challenging for a place in the last four. And when Alan Sothern struck either side of the break, Pembroke appeared to have the tie sewn up. The Dubliners threw away a 3-0 lead here last term in the Irish Senior Cup before eventually emerging victorious in extra-time, but there was to be no second chance this time around as they leaked three goals in the final 11 minutes. Chris Kirk gave Inst hope on 59 minutes, before Chris Barnes levelled four minutes later.

Skipper Mark Irwin fired the winner for the Old Boys with 90 seconds to go to revive Inst’s hopes and complete a memorable weekend that also saw them thump Annadale 4-1 in their domestic league. It now means Pool A is wide open again, and if Quins can defeat the ‘Dale on home soil at the end of the month, they may be back in with a shout. Elsewhere, the women of Cork C of I moved to within three points of champions Cork Harlequins at the summit of Division One thanks to a workmanlike 3-1 defeat of Catholic Institute. Julie O’Sullivan, Suzy Herbert and Michaela Mihailou were on target in a win that means C of I can draw level with Quins if they win their game in hand. The result also all but ends Institute’s – for whom teen starlet Naomi Carroll was on the scoresheet – chances of gate-crashing the top three. The Garryduff girls’ seconds completed a good weekend for the club as Hollie Sweetnam’s golden goal sealed a 2-1 win over Waterford in the Division Two Cup, while Ashton also progressed via a hard-fought 3-2 defeat of Bandon. In the men’s Division Two, C of I C were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by their D side, but remain three points clear of Belvedere at the top of the table. It was a fruitful weekend for Quins D in Division Three as they hit 14 goals in two matches, beating C of I F 8-0 on Friday night before dismantling Belvedere B 6-0 on Sunday, both away from home. The biggest challengers to their supremacy look to be Catholic Institute B, who were nowhere near their best despite whipping basement side UCC C 7-0 at the Mardyke. They are three points behind, while Midleton aren’t out of the race just yet and lie six points further back after a 3-0 win over C of I E. UCC B completed their programme for the first half of the season by defeating Quins E 3-0, with South African Andrew Keyes striking twice and Dickie Barrett netting the other. The result looks to have done enough to secure their Division Three status before the league is split later this month. Whether Limerick B will be included in a four or five-team Division Four may depend on how they fare in their two games in hand, at home to C of I E and Quins E. The Treaty city side did their hopes of staying up no favours by giving Ashton a walkover this weekend, and were deducted a point as a result. However, UCC C, Belvedere B, Quins E and C of I F are all practical certainties to be making the drop next month, something which may come as a relief given all have been on the end of some heavy defeats this term, shipping 169 goals between them and scoring just 38. Elsewhere, Tom Cotter and Greg McClelland shared seven goals between them as Quins B recorded a facile 12-1 win over Limerick A in the Munster Junior Cup.  Bandon B received a walkover from Belvedere B, while Quins C’s tie with UCC B was postponed. In the women’s Division Three, there were good wins for Waterford (8-0 vs Cork Harlequins), Clonmel (5-1 vs Midleton) and Fermoy (3-0 vs Belvedere), while in Division Four, Mallow recorded draws with Waterford and C of I, and Tiperary defeated Mallow 2-0. Division Five saw UCC and Quins play out a scoreless draw, while Limerick were handy 3-0 winners at C of I, and Ashton drew 2-2 at home to Belvedere. In the only game in Division Six, Ashton defeated UCC 4-0.