C of I rue missed opportunity

Cork Church of Ireland blew a superb chance to dump holders Lisnagarvey out of the Irish Junior Cup as the northerners snuck a 4-3 quarter-final win with a golden goal at Garryduff on Saturday. Having fallen behind to a Stephen Johnston strike, C of I — inspired by Richard Sweetnam’s quick thinking at the back — built up a 3-1 lead. Sweetnam released Bobby McAllister with a quick hit-out and he in turn found Stephen Sweetnam to play in David Herbert for the equaliser. Gary Wilkinson then rebounded in style off Alex Burns’ initial incision to put C of I in front, before the younger Sweetnam again began a move while Garvey argued in search of a long corner for number three, this time Greg Chambers crossing for Stuart Miller to first-time home.

But Ian Davidson’s corner goal got Garvey back in the game contest, and they equalised in the final seconds, despite being temporarily down to 10 men, through Robert Cummins. That came after Garvey goalkeeper Luke Campbell had brilliantly diverted a scything Steve Sweetnam reverse over the bar in a nervy final few minutes. But C of I’s misery was compounded when they fell asleep two minutes into the extra time, allowing Cummins to get to the circle unimpeded from halfway to lay off for James Dowling to reverse home the winner. There was better news for the club’s women, who saw off Bandon 2-0 in a tight derby tie, Emma Dobson’s brace proving the difference. C of I had another hero in Munster U16 goalkeeper Angel Axxon, who faced down Bandon players in one-on-ones thrree times, and each time won the battle against Beatrice Applebe, Ciara McCarthy and Lorna Dennehy. The hosts had a Judy Judge corner strike on four minutes disallowed as the ball allegedly never left the circle, but it mattered little as Dobson deflected home their second corner on 19 minutes. And from her side’s sixth penalty corner 12 minutes from time, Dobson mopped up a rebound after her mother Joan had seen her initial shot saved to wrap it up. The last non-Leinster side left in the tournament, Philip Sweetnam’s charges must now face travel to favourites Loreto in the semi-finals. Domestically, Cork Harlequins were the weekend’s big winners as Karen Bateman and Acacia Taylor’s goals proved enough to defeat UCC 2-0 at the Mardyke.

With two games to go, the key tie for Quins is away to Bandon, as a victory will copper-fasten second place — and automatic Irish Hockey League qualification — which is now theirs to throw away. College are now in a three-way fight for third and an IHL wildcard qualifier slot with Bandon and Ashton, particularly after the latter’s 5-0 dismissal of UL. Seething over the dropped point from a 3-3 draw last week, when George Blackwell’s students came from 3-1 down to steal two points, George Treacy’s side charges took their frustration out on the students. Karen Stokes bagged two after Ciara O’Herlihy, Emma Harrington and Deirdre Keohane had put the result beyond doubt earlier on, with Caroline McCarthy assisting the majority of the strikes in a fine performance. UL troubled Ashton netminder Elaine Redmond just twice and they went in front from a corner move, when McCarthy played in Harrington to deflect across goal for O’Herlihy to finish. Harrington then flicked in from a narrow angle for number two before Keohane bashed home a corner to put the result beyond doubt, and Stokes added two from play to put a gloss on the scoreline. Ashton’s hopes of mounting a late challenge for third place rely on their ability to get an unlikely win against champions Catholic Institute next time out, while College can put themselves in control if they win at home to UL. Meanwhile, the sole men’s Division One tie of the weekend saw UCC left to rue a poor 10-minute period where they gave up three goals in a 3-1 loss to C of I at Garryduff. Former College man Stephen Sweetnam cracked home one from the top and added two drag-flicks for a quickfire hat-trick that left the students – missing David Doherty and GAA-tied Fionn O’Leary – chasing the game. They were well in it though, and but for Billy Lynch’s heroics might have taken more. He pulled an Andy Gray drag-flick out of the top corner and saved at point-blank range as Cian Kavanagh rebounded alertly, while David Harvey took an improvised Gray corner shot off the line. Malcolm Coombes was the unlikely source of the UCC goal, flipping the ball over Lynch after being set free in a one-on-one by Adam O’Callaghan. For more of Andrew Gray’s photos from the C of I IJC games, please check out the SFH Facebook page here. Men Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals Cork C of I 3 (D Herbert, G Wilkinson, S Miller) Lisnagarvey 4 (S Johnston, I Davidson, R Cummins, J Dowling) (aet, golden goal); Kilkeel 2 (M Rodgers, W Hutchinson) Cookstown 3 (G Butler, A Smyth, S Allen); Annadale 1 (I Hamilton) Banbridge 3 (M Anderson 3); Three Rock Rovers 0 Corinthian 3 (C Hennessy 2, A Malcolm); Semi-finals (April 15): Cookstown v Banbridge; Corinthian v Lisnagarvey. Munster Div 1 Cork C of I 3 (S Sweetnam 3) UCC 1 (M Coombes); Women Electric Ireland Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals Hermes 2 (D Burke, J O’Brien) Pegasus 0; Pembroke Wanderers 4 (L Tolerton, R McGrath, E McCarthy, J McDonnell) Galway 0; Cork Church of Ireland 2 (E Dobson 2) Bandon 0; Loreto 3 (C Tipping, S Scott, P Lyons) Randalstown 0; Semi-finals (April 15): Loreto v Cork C of I; Pembroke Wanderers v Hermes. Munster Div 1 UCC 0 Cork Harlequins 2 (K Bateman, A Taylor); UL 0 Ashton 5 (K Stokes 2, C O’Herlihy, E Harrington, D Keohane).