IHL points deduction for UCC

University College Cork’s off-field woes have continued with the news that they have been docked two women’s Irish Hockey League points for fielding an ineligible player. The Irish Hockey Association yesterday confirmed the sanction after the college side fielded a player from outside their named 30-strong squad in the 4-1 away loss to Loreto on February 6. UCC LHC did not appeal the decision. Last November, UCC were handed a five-point deduction for fielding ineligible players in two Munster league games at the beginning of the season. However, this was reduced to a one-point sanction on appeal. In Leinster, Railway Union’s ladies were deducted four points for a similar offence in October. The sanction has all but ended College’s already slim hopes of advancing from Pool B of the women’s Irish Hockey League, reducing them from 4 points to 2, before they play Pegasus at the Mardyke tomorrow (1pm).

Having seen their Munster league and cup hopes all but decimated by Catholic Institute in recent weeks, College may nonetheless be glad of a shot-to-nothing encounter on the national stage. Only the width of a post denied the students a draw when the sides met in miserable conditions last term, but Pegasus are in ominous form this time around and know victory will secure a last four berth for them. They have dispatched the likes of Loreto and Railway Union from the Irish Senior Cup, and now have young guns Vanessa Surgeoner and Michelle Harvey complimenting veteran campaigners Suzanne Beaney and Claire McMahon. Also in Pool A, Catholic Institute must keep Loreto at bay in Limerick to maintain their hopes of a last four berth. Institute’s in-form forward Eimear Cregan will relish the opportunity to put one over a variety of her former Irish international colleagues, while the hosts will also defer to sweeper Elaine Bromell’s knowledge of their Dublin opponents from her time in Leinster with Pembroke and Bray. Elsewhere, Leinster league leaders Hermes should be too strong at home to winless Belfast Harlequins, and will be targeting a bonus-point win while hoping Pegasus stumble in Cork. Surprise Pool B leaders UCD will have their mettle tested as they travel to a Cork Harlequins side hell-bent on avenging their golden goal defeat in the Irish Senior Cup. The winner of Railway Union’s visit to Armagh will be in pole position for a semi-final spot heading into next weekend’s final round. Ballymoney meet Ards with both sides needing a win to keep their interest piqued. In the men’s competition, the goals are sure to flow at Harlequin Park as Monkstown visit Cork Harlequins, a meeting of two sides who tend to adopt an “if you score four, we’ll score five” mentality. Quins’ interest is largely academic, but they won this tie 3-2 last year and will be keen to put a dent in an in-form ‘Town side’s bid to overtake Pembroke in Pool B’s top spot.

For their part, Pembroke have endured a three-game winless streak as the goals have dried up, while visa complications have prevented them from bringing influential South African trio Brandon Panther, Gowan Jones and Jethro Eustace back to Ireland for the latter part of the season. That, plus the potential absence of four other starters through injury or being cup-tied, makes their trip to Banbridge all the more fraught with potential danger. Conversely, YMCA are at full strength for the visit of Instonians. In Pool A, Corinthians host Cork Church of Ireland hoping they can somehow replace the invention of the absent Davy Carson up front. C of I have bounced back from a rout at the hands of Glenanne to advance to two Munster cup finals, and they’ll be gunning to restore some pride on the national stage. Elsewhere, Glenanne visit Annadale intent on avenging their shock Irish Senior Cup defeat, while Lisnagarvey will be hoping to end Cookstown’s hopes as they make the trip across Ulster to Cookstown is make-or-break for the latter. Domestically, Bandon and Catholic Institute’s men begin the first leg of back-to-back league clashes. Bandon can breathe a little easier in terms of their IHL wildcard qualification hopes, after UCC went down 5-2 to Cork Harlequins last night. Mark Black’s two early short corner deflections did the majority of the damage for Quins, while at the other end Fionn O’Leary saw his reverse saved by Chris Daunt and Nathan Gokul’s follow-up was wide. A scrappy Lee d’Alton goal seemed to have put the result beyond round for Quins but UCC hit back as Roger Gray and Peter Catchpole combined well to setup Nigel Bateman for a tap-in. However, Colin Ross lashed home Quins’ fourth before Darren Farrell’s wickedly vacillating reverse shot hit the net for a fifth. Roger Gray’s late disguised drag-flick was therefore rendered academic. In the women’s league, Bandon host Ashton knowing they must win to realistically keep their IHL qualification hopes alive; Ashton’s are all but dashed after they lost 3-0 to Quins on Thursday night. Belvedere take on Cork C of I in a bid to draw level with them in sixth place, and will be hoping to build on their victory over UL in their last outing. Men’s Irish Hockey League Rd 4 Pool A: Corinthian v Cork C of I (Whitechurch Park, 2.30pm); Cookstown v Lisnagarvey (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Annadale v Glenanne (Lough Moss, Sunday, 1pm); Pool B: Banbridge v Pembroke Wanderers (Havelock Park, 4pm); Cork Harlequins v Monkstown (Harlequin Park, 1pm); YMCA v Instonians (Milltown, 3pm). Munster Div 1: Bandon vs Catholic Institute (Bandon Grammar, 3pm); Women’s Irish Hockey League Rd 4 Pool A: Catholic Institute v Loreto (Rosbrien, 2.30pm); UCC v Pegasus (Mardyke, Sunday, 1pm); Hermes v Belfast Harlequins (UCD, Sunday, 3pm). Pool B: Armagh v Railway Union (Armagh HC, 2.45pm); Cork Harlequins v UCD (Harlequin Park, 3pm); Ards v Ballymoney (NICS, 6pm). Munster Div 1: Bandon v Ashton (Bandon Grammar, TBC); Belvedere v Cork C of I (Ballincollig CS, 12pm);