Sargent strikes as UCC blink first

UCC blinked first in the battle for Munster Division One supremacy after going down 1-0 to Cork Harlequins at the Mardyke last night. With Quins, College and Catholic Institute all boasting 100% records in league action so far this term, something had to give in front of a large crowd at the Leeside venue.

The breakthrough came 24 minutes into the first half from a succession of Quins short corners, Cliodhna Sargent blasting to the backboard in the highlight of a superb performance from the Irish international centurion. College threatened regularly through Miriam Crowley’s forays but clear-cut chances were at a premium in a tight battle, Emily O’Leary’s rising deflection which went the wrong side of the post proving the students’ best opportunity. It means Quins are now joint top with College on 15 points but with a game in hand, which comes around pretty quickly as they face UL at home tomorrow. This fixture will bring back bad memories for Stephen Dale’s girls; they were stunned 2-1 here by the Limerick students on the first day of last season, easily one of the biggest shocks in Munster women’s hockey in the last decade. The odds of a repeat of that are somewhat slim on paper. Minus Elaine Breen and Eadaoin Moore – both on Erasmus until January – UL have not been the same force this season and are yet to pick up a point. Quins will be determined to prove a point and if Sargent continues where she left off on Thursday night – dominating her half defensively and picking out her attackers with precise, hard long balls – UL will find it tough to prosper. Catholic Institute’s 100% record shouldn’t be under much threat from Fermoy even if the game is at the north Cork venue, although Mark Egner’s girls can take heart from keeping Ashton scoreless for a half last week and finally getting on the scoresheet themselves. Cork C of I’s Sunday visit to Bandon carried plenty of importance for both sides; victory for C of I will open up a big chasm between the top five and bottom four, but a Bandon success will drag John Dennis’ girls up into midtable. Eddie Kirwan’s side’s momentum has been stalled somewhat following their bright start to the campaign but in Ali O’Regan, Ali O’Connor and Sandra Hackett they have game-changers who should make the difference in west Cork. Meanwhile, Cashel/New Inn face a tough women’s Irish Challenge opener away to an NUIG side laden with Connacht underage representatives. Dungarvan host Monkstown, one of the fastest-improving women’s teams in the country, though the Co Waterford side can rely on their grit pitch to unnerve any opposition side. Irish Hockey Challenge Rd 1: Dungarvan v Monkstown, Dungarvan, 1.30pm; NUIG v Cashel/New Inn, Dangan, 3.30pm; Kilkenny w/o Tullamore scr; Wexford w/o Cork Wanderers scr. Munster Div 1: Fermoy v Catholic Institute, Loreto Fermoy, 1pm; Cork Harlequins v UL, Farmer’s Cross, 1pm; Bandon v Cork C of I, Bandon Grammar, Sunday, 1.30pm.