For the second year running, the destination of the Munster women’s title hinges on a single game. Harlequin Park will command the sole focus of those at the business end of the competition today, as Cork Harlequins meet Catholic Institute in the final game of the regulation season (2.30pm).
Intriguingly, it is not a straight shootout for the title — amid a flurry of permutations, it is perhaps UCC who will be most nervous, as they look on from the sidelines as their fate is now out of their own hands.
The Cork students have completed their league programme, and lead Quins by two points, following a title quest which only became a two-horse race with the elimination of Institute and Cork C of I by last week’s results.
Hilary Chapple's dribbling ability is an integral part of the Quins attack. Picture: Ondine Roche
The permutations are thus; a Quins victory will give them the title by a single point, while a score draw will see College and Quins tied on 36 points, again necessitating a playoff for the title, as was the case last season.
However, a scoreless draw or an Institute win would send the title away from Harlequin Park for the first time in 15 seasons, into the grateful hands of the students.
Despite being out of the title shake-up, Institute have plenty to play for. They must get something from the game to ensure third place and a berth in the Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs, otherwise they face a one-off clash with C of I to determine who claims third.
The form guide nonetheless pegs Quins as favourites to do the necessary here. The sheer wealth of their experience under white-hot pressure — something the likes of Rachael this is correct Kohler and Karen Bateman are no strangers to — cannot be discounted lightly.
They have also had the Indian sign over Institute this season, recording a 3-2 league win at Rosbrien with a depleted side earlier this season, as well as edging the Munster Senior Cup final 3-1.
Institute must shore up a short corner defence which was exposed by UCC last week, but otherwise can match Quins pound-for-pound in most areas.
Katie Campbell is one of Institute's crop of exceptional young forwards. Picture: Adrian Boehm
Elaine Bromell is a top-class sweeper and short corner threat, while Ireland U18 starlets Naomi Carroll, Katie Campbell and Rebecca Barry’s development up front continues apace.
Both sides will be missing key players; Institute’s Eimear Cregan will not be available to face her former club, while Quins skipper Cliodhna Sargent is absent too.
The duo are involved in Ireland’s World Cup qualification campaign, which kicks off in Santiago on Wednesday with a clash against Malaysia.
Meanwhile, it’s also an important day for Belvedere and UL, who clash at Rosbrien (12.30pm) in a promotion-relegation playoff.
UL have been badly hit by player turnover this term and won just one game in the top tier, while Belvedere finished second in Division Two following their relegation in 2008/09.
The winner is guaranteed a place among the top guns next season, though extra-time will not be used to separate the sides in a stalemate; a draw will see the status quo remain.
Munster senior Jen O’Loughlin’s supply has been cut this season by a lack of possession suffered by Albert Valls’ UL side this term, as they have felt the loss of the likes of Nicki Sterritt and Laura Peters, but she poses their primary threat.
Ann Marie Dooley is the primary source of Belvedere’s goals, though Liz Clifford is a big threat at corner time and Colette Coomey a safe pair of hands between the sticks.
Elsewhere, the men’s Peard Cup final between Cork C of I and Catholic Institute, frozen off on St Stephen’s Day, finally goes ahead at Garryduff (2.30pm).
While Institute coach Ollie O’Connor expressed high hopes back in December of an upset, the Limerick side have gone off the boil a bit since then.
Jen O'Loughlin provies UL's primary scoring threat. Picture: Adrian Boehm
They did worry C of I for a while in the Munster Senior Cup final last month, only for the concession of five goals in eight crazy minutes to undermine their challenge in a 7-3 defeat.
The sole men’s league game between Bandon and Harlequins has had the sting taken out of it somewhat, given the sides are playing largely for pride with their respctive IHL qualification fates already decided.
Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Catholic Institute (Harlequin Park, 2.30pm); Promotion/relegation playoff: UL vs Belvedere (Rosbrien, 12.30pm); Men’s Div 1: Bandon vs Cork Harlequins (Bandon GS, 12.30pm); Men’s Peard Cup final: Cork C of I vs Catholic Institute (Garryduff, 2.30pm).
UL: Leah Kidney (GK), Toni Rossiter, Grace Brennan, Laura Davis, Doireann dePaor (Capt), Jean Sharkey, Eileen Foyle, Jessica Kelleher, Sinead Kelly, Jen O’Loughlin, Katy Horner, Helen O’Connell, Sinead MacMahon, Bríd Madigan (GK)
BELVEDERE: Colette Coomey (GK), Liz Clifford, Maria Twomey, Fiona Murphy, Jordana O’Donnell (Capt), Clare Crowley, Anne O’Donovan, Jen O’Leary, Cliona Barrett, Gillian Morrissey, Annmarie Dooley, Allyson Moore, Aoife Barrett, Anna Purcell.
Post Author:
alangood
29 Replies to “And then there were two…”
Beggers belief, we have few enough supporters in this country so we the last and most important ladies match of the season on at 14.30 as well as the Peard Cup Final on at the same time, what genius in the fixtures com thought of this. I for one wanted to watch both, now I have to choose.
Plus who let the boys schools final be on a friday, wih so many of the C of I squad being involved would someone with a bit of common sense put this match on a Wednesday or a Thursday to give time for these players to recover from any injury. Any injuries may not be recovered from, once again short sighted stupidity will deny some of these kids a chance to play in a final.
Fixtures com at both the boys and the branch have shown absolutely no thought, planning or sense.
The schoolboys branch, refuse to affliate themselves with the Munster Branch. Therefore there is no communication as to when schoolboys matches are put on. They will put them on rregardless of when and where and will do it there own way no matter what the Munster branch requires them to do. You need to brush up on what actually goes instead of aimlessly ranting.
Yes the ladies final and peard cup final were stupdily put on at the same time, but what can you do when its quins home game so they can choose whatever time they want and the only time the Peard family were available to present the cup and be at the match was at 230. Don’t just go blaming fixtures committee. If you’ve ideas why don’t you join the commtittee yourself and help out!
UCC Vs Quins the the league playoff!! come on Ucc u can do it this year!!
Great to see that the student UCC suporters cant even spell properly! For future refference the proper spelling is Anonymous. Go Quins
The Peard final was fixed for quite a while, it seams other matches kept changing times, the branch should have put their foot down.
Though the sooner the branches split the better.
WEll done the Boys schools com, stay well away from the joint branch, lets go back to the two branches, mens and womens.
@Questions Answered
First rule of the Internet: if you’re going to slag off someone’s spelling, make sure you can spell yourself. It’s ‘supporters’ and ‘reference’.
Well done Institute on a great match today, best of luck in the wildcard playoffs.
I see that Harlequins won the league on goal fifference. If clubs have done the work , scored the goals and let less in than their opposition they should win. This stupid rule is just an excuse to get an extra match and finance, completly unfair.
I would not blame the school boys from aligning themselves with the schools committee, they are much better off the way they are. Lets not cod ourselves anyway its not a schools committee its a school girls committee, who cannot look after their own side of the house……
@Anon 9.11am
In one sense I agree with you; from a UCC point of view, an extra match at this stage of the season with exams looming is hardly ideal. Nonetheless, I think there is no perfect solution here.
It would be galling for any team in this situation for the title to be decided by who managed to rack up more goals against the weaker teams. So then you might look at the head-to-head record of the two sides involved – in this case we’d have a Quins winner (2-2 and 1-0) but that is hardly a reflection of form over a season, especially since those games were played within 24 hours of each other.
While most people will admit that the league table doesn’t lie, there’s less consensus over how to split two teams who are level. A one-shot playoff is not perfect either – as college found to their cost last year. But other sports are turning to a full playoff system (Magners League etc), and you don’t hear anyone from Munster complaining. Has anyone else got a better idea?
whens the UCC Vs Quins playoff match on??
Date hasn’t been decided yet, but it will be in Garryduff I believe
The sports that have gone to a play-off system are doing it for money not to find out who is the best.
It has led to in Rugby teams picking their opponents, loosing matches and playing weakened teams, the same in basketball, and in ice hockey.
Most sports use goal difference to sort out ties on points it is only the greedy who wnat more. Has it done anything for rugby in England, rugby league in England, no but it has increased the coffers of the admistrators but increased the number of matches the players play and frequently the best players are not available due to injury. Creating very disappointing matches and a dissatisfied public.
Anyway, in Munster hockey we have a sort of mish-mash of the two, so I guess we’ll have to deal with it. On the goal difference thing though, the tables on southern fried put UCC ahead on goal difference, while the branch ones have Quins ahead. Someone has to be wrong!
will the UCC Vs Quins playoff match be on anytime soon??
I’ve heard conflicting things, one suggesting the branch want it played prior to the AGM this Thursday, another that it will be soon after the May bank holiday. I’m assuming UCC will want it played soon due to exams anyway.
Also, regarding the goal difference vs playoff argument: my understanding is that the reason the playoff rule exists is because you cannot use goal difference as a barometer in a league where walkovers can be given.
And regarding the league table, I’ve double-checked and cross-referenced the UCC/Quins results for the season and the one on the site is correct.
I can reassure you that the playoff was not introduced for the finance !
It was introduced on the mens side a number of seasons ago so that stronger teams would not be encouraged to thrash weaker teams during the regular season. When the branches merged this mens rule was carried over. I believe for the better.
A suggestion : What about using the IHL points system in Munster leagues ?
3 points for a win
2 points for a draw
0 points for a loss
1 bonus point for a win by 3 goals or more
1 bonus point for a loss by 1 goal
It may help separate teams better, would encourage attacking hockey by all through to the end of matches to get extra bonus points and would still not encourage strong teams to thrash weaker teams.
Playoff between UCC and Quins will be this weekend regardless…their just trying to fix which day suits best…sat, sun or mon
Using goaldifference is essential. Players have to understand that every shot counts as does every miss. So if you take away this pressure and all you have to do is win and the margin does not matter all you get are wasteful players goes of goal. They try poor options and make bad decisionss because it does not matter. I strongly believe that is one of the reasons why that Munster sides do not do well in isc and ihl. Players need to know a miss is normally a disaster. They need to understand that a miss could lose you the league. Pressure ye need it and for the good of every player in Munster it is essential. At international level it is essential.
on what day will the UCC Vs Quins match be decicded 4??
Confirmed earlier today:
Women’s Div 1 title playoff: Quins vs UCC
Saturday May 1st, 4.30pm @ Garryduff
Match is tomorrow Wed at 8pm in the Mardyke as far as i know
Support greatly appreciated,
Pity about the short notice…..
UCC supporter, where did you hear that it eason tomorrow? The email I have from the branch fixtures secretary says 4.30pm on Saturday in Garryduff!
This is from UCC Sports Office this afternoon;
UCC Ladies Hockey Club are in a play – off for the Munster Senior League Title this evening.
The match will be played in the Mardyke on the new synthetic pitch.
They will be attempting to win the title from Harlequins who are going for 15 in a row.
ALL Support would be appreciated.
The match will be played without the teams Irish Internationals who are away in Chile for the World Cup qualifiers.
UCC will be without Audrey O Flynn and Julia O Halloran, while Harlequins will be without Cliona Sargent.
The match is scheduled for 8pm.
Surely this can’t be true? If so, it is who knows about it?
There has been a lot of confusion about the timing of this playoff, as quins and ucc were seemingly both keen to play it tonight at the mardyke. However, the latest official emails from the branch say that such a fixture has not been approved, and that the game will go ahead on Saturday, 4.30 at garryduff as originally stated. That’s the most up to date info I have but I will post if anything changes…
so is the match on tonight r not??
No the Munster Branch would not let it go ahead, even though both teams were set and ready to go. For some reason the Fixtures Secretary would not allow it… odd.
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Beggers belief, we have few enough supporters in this country so we the last and most important ladies match of the season on at 14.30 as well as the Peard Cup Final on at the same time, what genius in the fixtures com thought of this. I for one wanted to watch both, now I have to choose.
Plus who let the boys schools final be on a friday, wih so many of the C of I squad being involved would someone with a bit of common sense put this match on a Wednesday or a Thursday to give time for these players to recover from any injury. Any injuries may not be recovered from, once again short sighted stupidity will deny some of these kids a chance to play in a final.
Fixtures com at both the boys and the branch have shown absolutely no thought, planning or sense.
The schoolboys branch, refuse to affliate themselves with the Munster Branch. Therefore there is no communication as to when schoolboys matches are put on. They will put them on rregardless of when and where and will do it there own way no matter what the Munster branch requires them to do. You need to brush up on what actually goes instead of aimlessly ranting.
Yes the ladies final and peard cup final were stupdily put on at the same time, but what can you do when its quins home game so they can choose whatever time they want and the only time the Peard family were available to present the cup and be at the match was at 230. Don’t just go blaming fixtures committee. If you’ve ideas why don’t you join the commtittee yourself and help out!
UCC Vs Quins the the league playoff!! come on Ucc u can do it this year!!
Great to see that the student UCC suporters cant even spell properly! For future refference the proper spelling is Anonymous. Go Quins
The Peard final was fixed for quite a while, it seams other matches kept changing times, the branch should have put their foot down.
Though the sooner the branches split the better.
WEll done the Boys schools com, stay well away from the joint branch, lets go back to the two branches, mens and womens.
@Questions Answered
First rule of the Internet: if you’re going to slag off someone’s spelling, make sure you can spell yourself. It’s ‘supporters’ and ‘reference’.
Well done Institute on a great match today, best of luck in the wildcard playoffs.
I see that Harlequins won the league on goal fifference. If clubs have done the work , scored the goals and let less in than their opposition they should win. This stupid rule is just an excuse to get an extra match and finance, completly unfair.
I would not blame the school boys from aligning themselves with the schools committee, they are much better off the way they are. Lets not cod ourselves anyway its not a schools committee its a school girls committee, who cannot look after their own side of the house……
@Anon 9.11am
In one sense I agree with you; from a UCC point of view, an extra match at this stage of the season with exams looming is hardly ideal. Nonetheless, I think there is no perfect solution here.
It would be galling for any team in this situation for the title to be decided by who managed to rack up more goals against the weaker teams. So then you might look at the head-to-head record of the two sides involved – in this case we’d have a Quins winner (2-2 and 1-0) but that is hardly a reflection of form over a season, especially since those games were played within 24 hours of each other.
While most people will admit that the league table doesn’t lie, there’s less consensus over how to split two teams who are level. A one-shot playoff is not perfect either – as college found to their cost last year. But other sports are turning to a full playoff system (Magners League etc), and you don’t hear anyone from Munster complaining. Has anyone else got a better idea?
whens the UCC Vs Quins playoff match on??
Date hasn’t been decided yet, but it will be in Garryduff I believe
The sports that have gone to a play-off system are doing it for money not to find out who is the best.
It has led to in Rugby teams picking their opponents, loosing matches and playing weakened teams, the same in basketball, and in ice hockey.
Most sports use goal difference to sort out ties on points it is only the greedy who wnat more. Has it done anything for rugby in England, rugby league in England, no but it has increased the coffers of the admistrators but increased the number of matches the players play and frequently the best players are not available due to injury. Creating very disappointing matches and a dissatisfied public.
I suppose the merits of playoffs are a matter of opinion – you make a strong argument above but then you could also say a playoff system mitigates against dead rubbers at the end of the season with more teams having things to play for, and makes things more exciting. This guy – http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rugby-union/introduction-of-play-offs-has-made-finale-of-magners-league-every-bit-as-exciting-as-we-had-hoped-1.1021809 – seems to think so anyway.
Anyway, in Munster hockey we have a sort of mish-mash of the two, so I guess we’ll have to deal with it. On the goal difference thing though, the tables on southern fried put UCC ahead on goal difference, while the branch ones have Quins ahead. Someone has to be wrong!
will the UCC Vs Quins playoff match be on anytime soon??
I’ve heard conflicting things, one suggesting the branch want it played prior to the AGM this Thursday, another that it will be soon after the May bank holiday. I’m assuming UCC will want it played soon due to exams anyway.
Also, regarding the goal difference vs playoff argument: my understanding is that the reason the playoff rule exists is because you cannot use goal difference as a barometer in a league where walkovers can be given.
And regarding the league table, I’ve double-checked and cross-referenced the UCC/Quins results for the season and the one on the site is correct.
I can reassure you that the playoff was not introduced for the finance !
It was introduced on the mens side a number of seasons ago so that stronger teams would not be encouraged to thrash weaker teams during the regular season. When the branches merged this mens rule was carried over. I believe for the better.
A suggestion : What about using the IHL points system in Munster leagues ?
3 points for a win
2 points for a draw
0 points for a loss
1 bonus point for a win by 3 goals or more
1 bonus point for a loss by 1 goal
It may help separate teams better, would encourage attacking hockey by all through to the end of matches to get extra bonus points and would still not encourage strong teams to thrash weaker teams.
Playoff between UCC and Quins will be this weekend regardless…their just trying to fix which day suits best…sat, sun or mon
Using goaldifference is essential. Players have to understand that every shot counts as does every miss. So if you take away this pressure and all you have to do is win and the margin does not matter all you get are wasteful players goes of goal. They try poor options and make bad decisionss because it does not matter. I strongly believe that is one of the reasons why that Munster sides do not do well in isc and ihl. Players need to know a miss is normally a disaster. They need to understand that a miss could lose you the league. Pressure ye need it and for the good of every player in Munster it is essential. At international level it is essential.
on what day will the UCC Vs Quins match be decicded 4??
Confirmed earlier today:
Women’s Div 1 title playoff: Quins vs UCC
Saturday May 1st, 4.30pm @ Garryduff
Match is tomorrow Wed at 8pm in the Mardyke as far as i know
Support greatly appreciated,
Pity about the short notice…..
UCC supporter, where did you hear that it eason tomorrow? The email I have from the branch fixtures secretary says 4.30pm on Saturday in Garryduff!
This is from UCC Sports Office this afternoon;
UCC Ladies Hockey Club are in a play – off for the Munster Senior League Title this evening.
The match will be played in the Mardyke on the new synthetic pitch.
They will be attempting to win the title from Harlequins who are going for 15 in a row.
ALL Support would be appreciated.
The match will be played without the teams Irish Internationals who are away in Chile for the World Cup qualifiers.
UCC will be without Audrey O Flynn and Julia O Halloran, while Harlequins will be without Cliona Sargent.
The match is scheduled for 8pm.
Surely this can’t be true? If so, it is who knows about it?
There has been a lot of confusion about the timing of this playoff, as quins and ucc were seemingly both keen to play it tonight at the mardyke. However, the latest official emails from the branch say that such a fixture has not been approved, and that the game will go ahead on Saturday, 4.30 at garryduff as originally stated. That’s the most up to date info I have but I will post if anything changes…
so is the match on tonight r not??
No the Munster Branch would not let it go ahead, even though both teams were set and ready to go. For some reason the Fixtures Secretary would not allow it… odd.