Queens of Quins regain their crown

Women’s Div 1 Cork Harlequins 2 (2 own goals) UCC 1 (Miriam Crowley) UCC’s Miriam Crowley had a hand in all three goals as Cork Harlequins reclaimed the Munster Division 1 title with a dramatic 2-1 win over the students. The Irish international inadvertently turned Yvonne O’Byrne’s cross into her own net as she attempted to clear, but showed her predatory instincts to smash home an equaliser for College. But with 45 seconds remaining, Crowley was out quick at short corner time to get a great block on Cliodhna Sargent’s short corner reverse, only to see the ball career up into the top corner.

It was the kind of luck that Quins had just about earned, although they were relieved to see Aine Curran’s strike ding the post shortly beforehand. Stephen Dale’s side have been Munster’s most consistent, winning their first 11 games and grinding out a remarkable backs-to-the-wall victory over Catholic Institute which tipped things in their favour. Insta’s 7-0 win in Bandon, backboned by Katie Campbell’s four goals, sets up an important clash with UCC next weekend, with the winner likely to qualify automatically for the Irish Hockey League while the losers could be consigned to the wildcard playoffs. Elsewhere, Limerick twice came from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Fermoy. Irish Hockey League wildcard playoff, Garryduff UCC 1 (Fionn O’Leary) Corinthian 2 (Karl Smith, Matt Fairweather) UCC endured some horrible luck as their bid to qualify for the Irish Hockey League for the first time came a cropper at the hands of Corinthian (2-1) at Garryduff. Fionn O’Leary’s half-volley had cancelled out Kar l Smith’s long-range deflection for the visitors, but College had a goal disallowed late on before Matt Fairweather — brought back from South Africa specifically for this game — dragged home the winner after a contentious short corner was awarded 15 seconds from time. Women’s Irish Hockey trophy semi-final UL 1 (Jean Devoy) Lisnagarvey 2 Lisnagarvey ended UL’s Irish Hockey Trophy dreams, winning their semi-final 2-1 in Limerick. The northern side built up a lead through a penalty stroke and a short corner, but Wexford native Jean Devoy hit back for UL. The students threw the kitchen sink at ‘Garvey, even withdrawing goalkeeper Elaine O’Flynn near the end, but could not find a way through.Men’s Munster Junior Cup final Cork C of I B 3 (Philip Sweetnam 3) UCC B 2 (Andy Colton, Greg Chambers) Cork C of I were pushed to the pin of their collar by Division 2 side UCC but had enough in the tank to claim the Munster Junior Cup once more. College were surprise cup finalists having seen off Quins B and Catholic Institute en route to the decider, but the underdogs hit the front five minutes in through Andy Colton’s drag-flick. Phil Sweetnam responded with a corner goal against his old club before finishing off breakaways either side of the break to put C of I in command.

But College had their chances too, with Greg Chambers dinging the post twice before eventually battering home a corner that was switched left five minutes from time. The students pressed for an equaliser but C of I held out to take the spoils. Men’s Div 3/4 Cup final Cork C of I D 2 (Alex Deane, Darren Wilkinson) UCC C 2 (Marc Hornibrook, Rory Coomey) (aet, UCC win 4-2 on penalty strokes) Division 3 champions UCC once again made heavy weather of a cup final but after last weekend’s McLean Cup final defeat to Waterford, they came up trumps in a shootout here to complete a double. Marc Hornibrook turned home Alan Good’s pass from the left for a half-time lead before Rory Coomey seemingly put them in control when he swept to the net off a switched corner. But a youthful C of I outfit came roaring back with two goals in a couple of minutes. First Alex Deane fired through Conor Wall’s defences before a smart corner move saw Simon Dring find Munster U16 colleague Darren Wilkinson to tap in at the back post. The blues looked the likelier to snatch a winner, with Jack O’Mahony unlucky to see a point-blank reverse go wide of the post, while College threatened again in extra time with two Coomey deflections sailing just wide. C of I sent their first flick wide in the shootout while Wall saved their fourth effort to send the students – who had a perfect four from four – into raptures.