C of I make it three and easy for Munster

Cork C of I ensured Munster will have three places in next season’s women’s Irish Hockey League with a resounding 5-1 victory over Belfast Harlequins in their final wildcard playoff game at Grange Road today. Suzy Herbert got the opener inside three minutes, and C of I were three to the good by the 20th minute thanks to Deirdre Casey and Julie O’Sullivan. It represented a remarkable turnaround from the sides’ IHL meeting in Belfast earlier this season, where the hosts had won 5-1. Mel Ryan made it four before half-time with Amy Kate Trevor getting the fifth after the break, before Judy Getty got a late consolation for a shell-shocked Harlequins side. That meant that no combination of goals difference from the Greenfields vs Old Alex tie could oust C of I, and the Dubliners ensured it wouldn’t even come down to that by winning 3-0 to claim a clean sweep from the wildcard playoffs. For Stephen Findlater’s pictures from the C of I/Belfast Harlequins game, click here. Rachel McSharry’s pictures from the C of I/Old Alex game are available here.