C of I overcome Bandon banana skin

Men’s Division 1 Bandon 0 Cork C of I 3 (Richard Lynch, Gary Wilkinson, Stephen Sweetnam) Bandon’s compact defensive work frustrated C of I for long periods in west Cork on Saturday but the title favourites finally broke them down in the second half. The first half was notable only for its complete absence of decent chances at either end, before Richard Lynch broke the deadlock on 40 minutes, squeezing the ball under Ian Hosford from close range.

Ali Smith and Simon Wolfe combined to give Gary Wilkinson a tap-in for number two before Stephen Sweetnam flicked low and hard for number three. UCC 1 (own goal) Cork C of I B 0 UCC needed an own goal to eventually beat an inspired Andy Whittaker in the C of I goal in a scrappy early morning game at the Mardyke. College had the majority of the better chances although they were few and far between. The goal came in the first half after a bit of ping pong in the circle, Malcolm Coombes getting the last UCC touch although the ball went in off a C of I stick. Bandon 0 UCC 4 (Andrew Gray 2, Andy Colton, Fionn O’Leary) Both sides were playing their second game of the weekend but it was UCC who adapted better as they ran out comfortable winners in west Cork. Andy Colton’s drag put them on front after five minutes before Andrew Gray returned to the pitch after a green card to tap in at the back post off Adam O’Callaghan’s cross. Gray then added a drag-flick before assisting Fionn O’Leary for the fourth. Irish Challenge semi-final Catholic Institute 3 (Simon Brickenden 2, Ed Gleeson) PSNI 3 (aet, Institute win 4-3 on strokes) A magnificent victory for Catholic Institute has them heading for Dublin for the club’s first national men’s final in quite some time. They could never shake off a resolute PSNI, with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 after full-time with Simon Brickenden and Ed Gleeson netting for the hosts. Former Munster U21 Brickenden scored again in extra time but once more PSNI reeled them in. Goalkeeper Tristan Murphy and Cathal Duggan were the key figures in the shootout, the latter netting the winning stroke to send them into a final against Cliftonville.