Quins the only winners as freeze returns

More freezing weather put paid to two top clashes in Munster, with UCC men’s home clash with Cork C of I and Catholic Institute’s showdown with UCC in the women’s league falling by the wayside. Bandon’s Munster Senior Cup visit to Institute was also not played, leaving Cork Harlequins as the weekend’s big winners. The only top-level game to go ahead in the southern province saw four goals for David Eakins and doubles for David Egner, Mark Black and Lee d’Alton as Quins predictably routed their second string 11-0, to join C of I at the top of the table. Both sides have 100% records from five games. Kilkenny, meanwhile, dumped last year’s Irish Challenge finalists Limerick out of this season’s tournament at the first hurdle, with Lee Chadwick’s double the catalyst for a resounding 4-1 victory. Melvin Buttimer claimed Limerick’s goal. Further afield, Glenanne won the battle of the hat-trick heroes to put a serious dent in Pembroke Wanderers’ title hopes with a stunning 4-3 win at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday. Both sides were severely depleted due to the unavailability of their Irish internationals, while Pembroke are still missing their South African trio and also lost the influential Mick O’Connor to a hip injury sustained in the warm-up. Justin Sherriff temporarily stepped out of retirement to bolster Wanderers, and he formed a lethal partnership with the returning Gordon Elliott, who claimed a hat-trick. New goalkeeper David Williamson — signed from Lisnagarvey over Christmas — had a fine debut, but could do nothing about Stephen Brownlow’s early double for Glenanne. Elliott then squeezed in a reverse-stick effort from a near-impossible angle in response, before Brownlow slid in at the back post to complete his hat-trick and restore Glens’ two-goal advantage. Elliott struck again before Fred van der Weij pushed Glens out to 4-2, only for a searing volley from Elliott to set up a lively endgame, in which Mick McGuinness had to charge down a last-ditch Pembroke short corner effort. Glens, who went on to rout Avoca 6-0 in the Mills Cup 24 hours later, remain joint top alongside YMCA — for whom Cork man Jonny Bruton blasted a double as they won 3-0 at basement side Weston — with Pembroke three points adrift having played a game extra. Elsewhere, Railway Union came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Fingal, while Chris Pelow’s missed penalty stroke denied Corinthians victory at UCD, that clash ending in a 0-0 stalemate. Three Rock Rovers’ clash with Monkstown fell victim to the frost. Meanwhile, Hermes took advantage of Loreto’s inactivity — their clashes with Corinthian and Old Alex were frosted off — to move four points clear in Leinster’s women’s top tier. They saw off Pembroke 3-0, with Lisa Jacob’s penalty stroke, Deirdre Duke’s tap-in and a virtuoso Aine Connery effort doing the damage. Duke went on to hit four goals in yesterday’s 7-2 Jacqui Potter Cup win over Three Rock Ladies. Catriona McGilp’s last-gasp strike kept UCD in touch in third place with a nervy 2-1 victory at Bray, while reigning champions Railway Union ended a two-game winless run to beat Trinity 5-0. Old Alex, inspired by Aisling Naughton and Shirley McCay, remain fourth after they saw off Glenanne 3-1, but victory came at a cost with four players picking up injuries. Men’s Div 1 Cork Harlequins 11 (D Eakins 4, D Egner 2, M Black 2, L d’Alton 2, J Hobbs) Cork Harlequins B 0 UCC P Cork C of I P; Munster Senior Cup Catholic Institute P Bandon P; Irish Hockey Challenge Rd 1 Kilkenny 4 (L Chadwick 2, T Lynas, P Cutler) Limerick 1 (M Buttimer); Women’s Div 1 Catholic Institute P UCC P;