Bandon throw a spanner in the works

The most exciting Munster women’s title race in years took an unexpected turn at Bandon Grammar School yesterday, as Bandon put a dent in Cork C of I’s ambitions by holding them to a 2-2 draw. It could have been a lot worse for C of I as the hosts – notoriously stubborn opposition for the big guns on their own patch – led twice, first through Amy Roycroft and again after half-time via Louise O’Flynn. They were pegged back by Julie O’Sullivan and Claire Hickey, and although C of I had the lion’s share of possession, they couldn’t find a winner. It completed a good weekend for Eddie Kirwan’s Bandon, who had defeated Belvedere 2-0 on Saturday with goals from Thelma Kingston and Jane O’Higgins.

While the landscape hasn’t changed for C of I – take maximum points from their remaining three games and they will be champions – this result won’t have done their confidence any good. Those games are hardly easy pickings either. Bandon and Cork Harlequins – now the only two sides to take points off them this season – come calling to Garryduff, and a tricky trip to Catholic Institute must be negotiated. Institute warmed up for that clash by completing the double over Limerick rivals UL. Aoife Kenny, Aoife Roisin Burke and Naomi Carroll got the goals in a 3-0 win. Compounding a bad weekend for C of I was the fact they have also dropped out of the top two for the first time this season. UCC leapfrogged them into second place by a point after smashing Ashton 7-0, though C of I have a game in hand. Quins are still three points clear at the top. Three players claimed doubles during a straightforward day’s work at the Mardyke. Ali O’Connor bagged two from corners, Fiona O’Connell claimed her brace from play while a skilful mid-air reverse shot was among skipper Jean Long’s double. Audrey O’Flynn completed the rout with a drag-flick. That result completed Ashton’s league programme, and they now face an anxious wait for Belvedere to complete theirs to see if they can avoid finishing bottom of the pile. They took eight points from 14 games, while Belvedere are three further back but have three games left, at home to Institute and away to UCC and UL. The latter are also on eight points, but the Limerick students need to just avoid defeat to be safe. In any case, they cannot go straight down as they are currently level on points with Ashton. Buoyed by their MSC win last week, College appear to be in the best form of the title-challengers, but must be mindful of player burnout, given that half a dozen of their squad played five matches in eight days due to their involvement with Munster. To that end, it may have been a blessing in disguise that their Sunday fixture with Belvedere was postponed, though the students may have welcomed the chance to continue their good form and subsequently narrow their focus towards their April 7 showdown at Harlequin Park. Their destiny is still out of their hands, and it would take a freakish set of results elsewhere for them to be going to Quins with a chance of taking the title outright.

Nonetheless, the prospect of a title playoff is still a real possibility – the meeting of Quins and C of I will probably rule that eventuality in or out – while there is a further intriguing sub-plot as only two of the trio can qualify automatically for next season’s IHL. Further afield, College will be looking on enviously next weekend as two of their intervarsity rivals, UCD and Ulster Elks, clash in the semi-finals of the ESB Irish Senior Cup. A Caroline Smith goal helped the Elks progress past Corinthian on a 1-0 scoreline, while goals from Catriona McGlip, Roisin Flinn and a Lisa Jacob penalty stroke helped UCD squeeze out Belfast Harlequins 3-1. Meanwhile, Ulster giants Ballymoney and Pegasus will reprise their long-running rivalry in the other semi-final. A Nicki Parke double helped ‘Money – conquerors of C of I and Quins in the earlier rounds – oust Railway Union 5-2, compounding a miserable week for the Dubliners, who had already seen their treble dreams go up in smoke with a penalty strokes loss to Hermes in the Jacqui Potter Cup final. ‘Money will have to travel for the first time in the competition, with the draw giving Pegs – who won 3-0 at Lurgan thanks to a Suzanne Beaney hat-trick – home advantage as they seek to complete a three-in-a-row. Closer to home, the promotion and relegation issues in Division Two moved a step closer to completion on a profitable weekend for UCC and Waterford. The Déise side defeated Bandon 2-0 in west Cork with Paula Guiry and Catherine Murphy on target, to move six points clear at the top, albeit with an extra game played.

As one of only two first XI sides in that division, they are making a strong case for promotion, though it remains to be seen whether they wish to accept that challenge. However, things are looking bleak for Moyne/Thurles, who have fallen from grace following last season’s second-place finish. They are now eight points adrift at the foot of the table after going down 5-1 at UCC, who assuaged their own relegation fears in the process. Club top goalscorer Fiona O’Connell added another two to the brace she’d got earlier in the day for the firsts, and that two-goal feat was matched by Ciara O’Hanlon, with Vicky O’Sullivan getting the other.