International milestones for C of I duo

It was a weekend of international milestones for two of Cork Church of Ireland’s most decorated players as Ireland claimed a series win against Scotland in Banbridge via two wins and a draw. John Jermyn hit three goals in as many games, the first on Friday night marking his 50th in an Irish jersey and putting him second behind Stephen Butler in the all-time top goalscorers list. He was then given the captaincy duties for the first time in yesterday’s clash, a 1-1 draw.

That game also finally provided Karl Burns with his 100th cap in green, having been stuck on 99 for months. Jermyn failed to mark his day with the captain’s armband with a goal, seeing his early corner efforts thwarted. But Peter Blakeney’s first-time roofed effort from the top of the D gave Ireland the lead, before Gordon McIntyre saved face for the Scots with eight minutes to go, having seen C of I netminder Mark Ruddle get in the way of a number of his side’s efforts earlier in the half. Ireland’s best performance came on Saturday, when they routed the Scots 5-0. Mitch Darling gobbled up Ronan Gormley’s rebounded shot for a sixth-minute, before Jermyn made it two with a trademark drag. Butler matched that feat for a 3-0 lead at the break, before Jermyn bagged another in the second half and Alan Sothern’s clinical deflection made it five.