Ards too clinical for UCC

Women’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-final UCC 0 Ards 2 (Janice Vaughan, Becky Weir) National indoor champions Ards’ better chance taking won the day in a tight ISC quarter-final, denying UCC a rare appearance at the finals weekend. Janice Vaughan turned in a cross from veteran former Ireland international Tamara Stronge to put them in front before turning provider for Becky Weir just after half-time.

College probed for an opening with Amy-Kate Trevor’s range of passing proving a danger but clear-cut chances were rare as their challenge finally petered out. Women’s Division 1 Cork C of I 2 (Ali O’Regan, Jen Barry) Cork Harlequins 2 (Lesley-Ann Daunt, Kay Gaffney) Having gone through their first 11 games without dropping a point, Cork Harlequins have now dropped four in two games after they opened for C of I at Garryduff. Lesley-Ann Daunt and a fine shot from Kay Gaffney had put them seemingly in control at 2-0 at half-time. But C of I came roaring back with two set-piece goals, Ali O’Regan getting a neat touch to a goalward bash before Jen Barry found the backboard off a straight hit to salvage two points. UL 0 Fermoy 1 (own goal) It looks like a long way back for UL now as Fermoy notched a priceless win in Limerick yesterday. The Treaty city has proven a happy hunting ground for the north Cork girls in recent weeks, with this victory adding to a 1-1 draw against Limerick at Villiers. This game hinged on two key moments. The first was the winning goal, which saw a crash ball hit a UL foot en route to the backboard for an own goal.

George Blackwell’s students pressed hard for an equaliser and thought they’d got it with the game’s last play. A short corner was moved back across the goal and slapped high to the net, but the goal was ruled out as it was deemed to be the first strike and did not hit the backboard. UL, still without a point this season, now have an eight-point deficit to make up on Fermoy and just five games to do it; three of those are against the top three and only two games are at home. Bandon 0 Ashton 0 The first goalless draw of the season did little for either Ashton or Bandon’s chances of making a late charge for fourth place. The visitors had the better of the chances but couldn’t convert, to leave C of I as the only side who can realistically mount a challenge for the IHL wildcard spot. Catholic Institute 12 (Eimear Cregan 6, Naomi Carroll 2, Elaine Bromell, Keely Cantrell, Eimear Ryan, Clodagh Moloney) Limerick 1 (Lorraine McGowan) All too easy for Institute in the Limerick derby as Eimear Cregan’s sextet of goals set them en route to a facile win that moves them above UCC into second place. They are five points behind Quins but have two games in hand.