It was a weekend of landmarks for Munster hockey players as Audrey O’Flynn won her 100th senior international cap, while Yvonne O’Byrne and Nick Burns claimed their first.
O’Flynn’s Ireland – under Graham Shaw’s tutelage for a camp in Spain with coach Darren Smith’s wife expecting their first child imminently – were unlucky to lose 3-2 to the hosts, who nabbed a goal with five seconds to go on Saturday. Catholic Institute’s Naomi Carroll scored Ireland’s second.
But the Cork woman’s penalty stroke sparked a revival as Ireland hit three in five minutes to win the second game 4-2 yesterday, Cork Harlequins star O’Byrne among five players to make their debuts – goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran (Randalstown), Vanessa Surgeoner (Pegasus), Chloe Brown (Ards) and Kate Lloyd (Railway Union).
O’Flynn’s achievement is all the more remarkable given the tally was achieved in less than four years; she made her debut as a 22-year-old against Belgium in February 2010.
UCD man Burns, a product of Midleton College and Cork C of I, played in the Irish men’s 1-1 draw with Spain in Terrassa on Saturday, one of eight players earning their first caps. The others were his UCD team-mate Ross Canning, Pembroke duo Harry Spain and Mark Loughrey, Michael Robson (Annadale), James Corry (Instonians) and Richie Shaw (Glenanne).
David Fitzgerald performed heroics in the Irish goal while their equaliser came when Gary Shaw raided the baseline and found Davy Carson to drag home. Both national sides have more games against Spain this week.
Michael Robson; Harry Spain; Ross Canning; Stephen Brownlow; James Corry; Nick Burns; Mark Loughrey and Richie Shaw.
Domestically, Cork C of I impressed in beating Limerick 5-1 – Amy Roberts scoring twice – while former international star Rachael Kohler rolled back the years with a hat-trick in Cork Harlequins’ 8-0 beating of an off-colour Fermoy.
Stephen Parker scored a hat-trick as Cork C of I strolled to a 7-0 win over their own second string, while the remainder of the Division One men’s and women’s games were frosted off.
But the Cork woman’s penalty stroke sparked a revival as Ireland hit three in five minutes to win the second game 4-2 yesterday, Cork Harlequins star O’Byrne among five players to make their debuts – goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran (Randalstown), Vanessa Surgeoner (Pegasus), Chloe Brown (Ards) and Kate Lloyd (Railway Union).
O’Flynn’s achievement is all the more remarkable given the tally was achieved in less than four years; she made her debut as a 22-year-old against Belgium in February 2010.
UCD man Burns, a product of Midleton College and Cork C of I, played in the Irish men’s 1-1 draw with Spain in Terrassa on Saturday, one of eight players earning their first caps. The others were his UCD team-mate Ross Canning, Pembroke duo Harry Spain and Mark Loughrey, Michael Robson (Annadale), James Corry (Instonians) and Richie Shaw (Glenanne).
David Fitzgerald performed heroics in the Irish goal while their equaliser came when Gary Shaw raided the baseline and found Davy Carson to drag home. Both national sides have more games against Spain this week.
Michael Robson; Harry Spain; Ross Canning; Stephen Brownlow; James Corry; Nick Burns; Mark Loughrey and Richie Shaw.
Domestically, Cork C of I impressed in beating Limerick 5-1 – Amy Roberts scoring twice – while former international star Rachael Kohler rolled back the years with a hat-trick in Cork Harlequins’ 8-0 beating of an off-colour Fermoy.
Stephen Parker scored a hat-trick as Cork C of I strolled to a 7-0 win over their own second string, while the remainder of the Division One men’s and women’s games were frosted off.