Quins on the ‘Money to keep IHL hopes alive

Cork Harlequins are Munster’s last hope in the women’s Irish Hockey League, after UCC’s challenge all but ended with a sickening 2-1 defeat to Loreto at Garryduff. Quins kept up their interest in nabbing the second qualification spot in Pool A by laying their Joey Dunlop Centre demons to rest with a 2-1 win over Ballymoney, thanks to strikes from Cliodhna Sargent and Rachel McSharry. Much like last season, they now head into the final round with their destiny out of their hands. Last year, an Eimear Cregan stunner gave them a crucial bonus-point win over Armagh, before hearing after the whistle that other results had gone their way. With Pembroke Wanderers winning 2-1 at home to Ards, Quins will be anxiously awaiting news from other grounds again on March 14. Pembroke are a point clear going into the final round, meaning Quins must better their result on the final day.

If the permutations are straightforward, the reality may not be. Quins host Ards, who mathematically still have something to play for, while Pembroke go to Railway. On paper, an upset looks unlikely in the all-Dublin clash, theoretically giving Quins an advantage, but Railway have already sealed qualification for the last four, and are guaranteed to top the pool, so may not be quite at full tilt. Their coach Mick McKinnon has already shown a willingness to experiment; he confidently left Irish international and midfield fulcrum Emma Smyth out of his 16 for their visit to Cork C of I, even though Smyth made the trip south. The visitors knew a win of any kind would see them become the first side to advance, and first-half goals from Patricia O’Dwyer and Sinead Walsh did the job. O’Dwyer’s came inside two minutes, her shot getting the faintest of touches off a C of I defender to divert past Orla McCarthy, who produced top-drawer saves from Jean McDonnell and Kate McKenna. C of I awoke from their early slumber as Sinead Connery played in Claire Hickey, but she shot narrowly wide. With two minutes to half-time a mis-hit from Cecelia Joyce found its way to Sinead Walsh, who unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the circle to see Railway two up at the break. The hosts threw caution to the wind in the second half, but Helen Stevenson was alert to block Connery’s shot to thwart a potential revival. In Pool B, UCC’s challenge ended as Loreto recovered from an early setback to seal a fortuitous 2-1 win at Garryduff. Boasting five internationals in their lineup has proved a mixed blessing for the Dubliners, as they rarely get to train with a full squad, and College took advantage of their early uncertainty. The students had a rip-roaring start, taking the lead inside 90 seconds from their first short corner as Ali O’Connor’s straight hit found it’s way to the backboard. The hosts forced three more corners in the first five minutes, Audrey O’Flynn seeing a drag flick well saved by Louisa Healy.

But Loreto survived seeing Nikki Keegan yellow carded to steadily get a foothold in the game, with Nikki Symmons, Cathy McKean and Aisling Campion beginning to dominate. Karen Olden was forced into two neat saves from Symmons, as Loreto plundered five first-half corners of their own. College should nonetheless have doubled their lead on 27 minutes, when Ali O’Regan found Fiona O’Connell all on her own in the circle, but her first time shot was brilliantly turned around the post by Healy. Loreto made UCC pay for that miss just before half time, when Nicci Daly turned the ball past Karen Olden off a fine cross from McKean. Despite sharing 11 corners in the first half, neither side was able to take advantage, a trend which continued after the break as three more went begging for each side. UCC’s Olivia Roycroft saw yellow for not retreating, but chances were at a premium from open play. Loreto then won the game with a sucker punch with four minutes remaining. A speculative ball from the right hit a College stick and diverted past Olden, the new own goal ruling proving the hosts’ undoing. Hermes took  bonus point win from Randalstown, and now need just a draw from their final group game against Loreto to advance to the semi-finals. P{egasus are in the same boat after winning 3-1 against Old Alex. Meanwhile, the two Munster women’s league games yielded eyebrow-raising results, with particular implications for Catholic Institute’s title challenge, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Bandon. Jane O’Higgins gave the hosts an early lead, and Bandon dropped back into defensive mode thereafter, only for Rosie Pratt to eventually equalise.

Institute were aggrieved to see what seemed a legitimate goal chalked off, but must make do with two points which puts them back to the top of the standings, though any of the three sides below them can overtake them if they win their games in hand. However, the most heartening result of the day – unless you’re from Waterford – came at Newtown School, where University of Limerick claimed their first points of the season with a 2-1 win. The Treaty City girls have endured a miserably campaign, having notched only one goal in nine games, but Doireann de Paor’s brace – in response to Eileen Guiry’s effort for Waterford – ensured they are finally off the mark in the league this term. In men’s hockey, Quins were the weekend’s biggest winners, with Paul Lombard helping himself to four goals in an 8-2 rout of basement boys Catholic Institute that moves the Farmer’s Cross outfit back into second place. C of I B won the battle of the second strings 3-1, Richie Dorman’s double the catalyst for their defeat of Quins B, while John Jermyn and David Hobbs both did likewise in C of I’s straightforward 5-0 defeat of UCC. Limerick’s superb form on the national stage continued as they booked their place in the last four of the Irish Challenge with a 4-1 rout of Portrush at Villiers. Veteran Robbie Ryan grabbed a grace, while teen starlet Nathan Eacrett – fresh from his six-goal haul against UCC in Division Two last weekend – and Amir Khan notched the others. They will have home comforts again in the last four, against Larne, who were 2-1 winners against Smithfield. In the Irish Senior Cup, a two-goal lead proved to be a dangerous one for both Corinthian and Lisnagarvey, who threw away advantages to crash out of the competition. The former looked set to shock Glenanne, but Gary Shaw’s late double – which completed his hat-trick, gave Glens a 4-2 win, while Three Rock Rovers came back from the dead to oust Jason Lynch’s ‘Garvey side 3-2. The other last eight ties were also close affairs, with Monkstown defeating Kilkeel by the odd goal in nine while Ian Hamilton’s double helped Annadale notch a priceless 2-1 win over Ulster rivals Banbridge. The ‘Dale will fly the flag for Ulster in the semi-finals as they visit Monkstown, with Rovers and Glens dogging it out in an all-Leinster tie at Grange Road. Additional reporting: Roger Gray, David Harvey, Andy Gray, Ali Smith, Steve Sweetnam