Canucks end Irish visit on a high note

Canada gave themselves the perfect going-away present ahead of the Pan-American Games by finally overcoming an Irish side at the fifth attempt at Belfield earlier today. Having lost to and drawn with both Ireland A and the senior side, the Canucks finally posted a 2-1 win today, despite once again having the majority of chances and possession. Skipper for the day Cathy McKean finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with an opportunist strike, coming after Nikki Symmons and Megan Frazer had both fired narrowly wide earlier on. But the lead did not last long though as the visitors profited from sloppy defending a minute later for Caillie O’Hara to put Canada on level terms.

The second half followed a similar pattern, Ireland going close but failing to take advantage. Symmons flicked wide from a 38th minute corner but it was Canada who showed the cutting edge, Abigail Raye netting their second corner with 12 minutes to go. Canada’s Natalie Wise was yellow-carded soon after, but Ireland could not force an equaliser. For the second time in three days, coach Gene Muller bemoaned his side’s lack of ruthlessness. “We simply made too many errors and did not complete our good phases and movement. We only conceded a handful of chances but were let down by a lack of focus and concentration.” Domestically, it was a profitable day for Cork C of I, who progressed to the third round of the women’s Irish Junior Cup as Cathy Walsh’s golden goal broke Ashton hearts at Garryduff today. Their men’s first XI ensured Cork Harlequins’ stay at the top of the men’s Division One lasted barely 24 hours as they won 3-1 at Bandon. The west Cork side showed continued signs of improvement and didn’t offer up same volume of short corners that had seen them hit for eight in the sides’ first encounter before Christmas, and plundered a strike of their own through Fionn O’Leary. However, strikes from John Jermyn, Peter Catchpole and Alec Moffett did the necessary for the champions. In Division Two, C of I D put another dent in Galway’s promotion hopes with a 6-3 win at Garryduff, while C of I C stay top after a 1-0 win over Quins C. Limerick’s Roger Clarke scored a hat-trick but still found himself upstaged against Belvedere at Ballincollig, as drag-flicker Richie O’Dell helped himself to four in a 4-3 win. There was better news for Limerick B, as teen sensation Nathan Eacrett helped himself to four goals in a 6-2 defeat of Quins E. The result boosts Limerick’s chances of avoiding the drop to Division Four when the split is made, and they have one more game in hand, against C of I E. Division Three’s other game saw a markedly improved performance from winless basement side UCC C, but they still down 2-0 to an under-strength Belvedere B. Derek O’Sullivan rifled home a short corner with eight minutes to go, before sealing victory by finishing off a breakaway with a flicked effort from an acute angle. The national competitions resulted in a reduced fixture list in the lower women’s divisions, but Catholic Institute stayed in control of Division Two with a 4-1 defeat of Moyne/Thurles.