Time runs out on Fermoy’s comeback

Women’s Division 1 Cork C of I 3 (Ali O’Regan 2, Claire Hickey) Fermoy 2 (Jess Ottman, Trish Fitzpatrick) A late Fermoy rally gave the scoreline a less lopsided look but time ran out for the north Cork side on Tuesday night as C of I moved into a share of fourth place for Christmas. Ali O’Regan arrowed home a reverse to put Eddie Kirwan’s charges in front before a move down the left engineered by Mel Ryan and Sinead James setup Claire Hickey to rifle home the second.

Ryan played in Hickey for another chance that was repelled by Ondine Roche in the Fermoy goal, but O’Regan was on hand to scoop home the rebound for a three-goal half-time lead. With Jen Hales and Emma Barber snuffing out any Fermoy threat, C of I looked set to cruise home but couldn’t add to their tally and Fermoy finally got some rewards in the final minutes. Jess Ottman pounced on a loose ball in the circle before Trish Fitzpatrick battered home a corner, but the full-time whistle thwarted Mark Egner’s side’s chances of snatching a draw. Men’s Division 1 Cork C of I 6 (Stephen Sweetnam 3, Gary Wilkinson, Andrew Daunt, David Hobbs) Cork C of I B 0 The scoreline fails to tell the story of a keenly contested ‘Duff Bowl Derby’ tonight that was lit up by a few moments of magic from Stephen Sweetnam. The C of I seconds did a good job of frustrating their inter-club opponents and held plenty of possession with their own as Bob MacAllister, Alex Burns and Owen Chambers shone. Gary Wilkinson sniffed out a rebound to put the firsts ahead before Sweetnam doubled that lead from the penalty spot for a 2-0 half-time lead. Andrew Whitaker was in imperious form in goal for the 2nds though, and had made a series of excellent reaction stops before Andrew Daunt made it three by touching in a corner push. David Hobbs slammed home a rebound after Sweetnam’s drag had rattled the post to kill the tie as a contest. Sweetnam then scored two absolute belters on his reverse, finding the top corner from either side of the D and giving Whitaker no chance. The 2nds had their chances too – Philip Brownlow got a great mid-air touch to a crash that sailed just over while Philip Sweetnam and Stuart Miller also tested Billy Lynch.