Peter Caruth finally proved his worth to Monkstown as his goals fired them to another Irish Hockey League success at Havelock Park yesterday.
The former Annadale man joined the Glenageary outfit on his return from a couple of years playing semi-professionally on the continent, but spent the majority of the year sidelined with a foot injury.
Irish international Caruth teed up Kyle Good for a sublime silver-goal winner in the 2-1 semi-final success over Three Rock Rovers on Saturday, setting up a repeat of last year’s final against hosts Banbridge, who edged out Lisnagarvey 3-1.
The decider was just Caruth’s sixth game this season, but he stole the show. In a final lacking the openness of last year’s clash, he fired home the opener 24 seconds into the second half as Good’s pass clumsily evaded two Bann sticks.
Bann equalised with a fine goal, Eugene Magee and Stephen Dowds teeing up Johnny McKee to push past David Fitzgerald. But a mistrap by Scott Forbes onto his own foot gave Monkstown a big short corner chance, Caruth slapping past the goalkeeper of the tournament Gareth Lennox for 2-1.
The hosts could have tied it up with the game’s final play – also a penalty corner – but Good charged down Dowds’ drag-flick and the title was Monkstown’s. While there was disappointment for them on the pitch, the plaudits off it continue to flow with the club receiving universal praise for an incredible hosting effort.
The back-to-back victories mean Monkstown will have their 2014/15 European fate in their own hands when they head to Cagliari in Italy for the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy. Should they win that competition, they will more than likely take part in the elite EuroHockey League next season.
Meanwhile, UCD completed a remarkable treble with a penalty shuttles win over Railway Union in the women’s IHL decider, prevailing against the defending champions to add to their Irish Senior Cup and Leinster league titles.
They were indebted to goalkeeper of the tournament, Tiffaney Ellis, who produced a masterclass in the one-on-one shoot-out. She played a part in keeping out four of Railway’s five penalties, allowing Nikki Evans and Anna O’Flanagan to net the winning efforts, making it 2-1.
In normal time of a scrappy, error-strewn affair, it ended 1-1. Katie Mullan fired home a brilliant low goal to reflect the students’ first quarter dominance but they were pegged back by Kate Dillon levelled for Railwa,y, who were gunning for a fourth title in five seasons.
It was a big turnaround for Railway after their semi-final win pver Pegasus on Saturday also came on penalties; UCD rode an early storm to see off Loreto 3-1 with O’Flanagan firing twice while Evans closed out the win.
Domestically, a late flourish from Cork Harlequins wasn’t enough to prevent Cork C of I progressing to the men’s Munster Senior Cup final against UCC.
A Stephen Sweetnam brace and goals from John Jermyn and Nigel Buttimer had C of I in control at a foggy Farmer’s Cross, with a Dan Hobbs drag-flick Quins’ sole reply until two John Hobbs penalty strokes – coming after Phil Smith was twice hit on the goal-line – narrowed the gap.
Catholic Institute won a rollicking derby 6-3 against Limerick to claim the Munster Junior Cup. They led 2-0 via Simon Brickenden and Justin O’Sullivan early on, but incredbily were 3-2 behind after quarter of an hour as Tom Clarke’s brace and a David Cardy drag-flick turned the game on its head.
Insta recovered to lead 4-3 at the break thanks to Brian Downes and John Wallace before shutting up shop as two second-half Eric Callender strikes saw them home in relative comfort.
Irish Hockey League finals weekend, Havelock Park
Men’s semi-finals: Monkstown 2 (A Ward, K Good) Three Rock Rovers 1 (H Morris); Banbridge 3 (J McKee, B McCandless, S Dowds) Lisnagarvey 1 (T Cockram); Men’s final: Monkstown 2 (P Caruth 2) Banbridge 1 (J McKee).
Women’s semi-finals: Railway Union 1 (A Speers) Pegasus 1 (V Surgeoner) (aet, Railway win 4-3 on penalty shuttles); Loreto 1 (S Clarke) UCD 3 (A O’Flanagan 2, N Evans); Women’s final: UCD 1 (K Mullan) Railway Union 1 (K Dillon) (aet, UCD win 2-1 on penalty shuttles).
Men’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final: Cork C of I 4 (S Sweetnam 2, J Jermyn, N Buttimer) Cork Harlequins 3 (J Hobbs 2, D Hobbs).
Men’s Munster Junior Cup final: Catholic Institute 6 (E Callender 2, S Brickenden, J Wallace, B Downes, J O’Sullivan) Limerick 3 (T Clarke 2, D Cardy).
Catholic Institute won a rollicking derby 6-3 against Limerick to claim the Munster Junior Cup. They led 2-0 via Simon Brickenden and Justin O’Sullivan early on, but incredbily were 3-2 behind after quarter of an hour as Tom Clarke’s brace and a David Cardy drag-flick turned the game on its head.
Insta recovered to lead 4-3 at the break thanks to Brian Downes and John Wallace before shutting up shop as two second-half Eric Callender strikes saw them home in relative comfort.
Irish Hockey League finals weekend, Havelock Park
Men’s semi-finals: Monkstown 2 (A Ward, K Good) Three Rock Rovers 1 (H Morris); Banbridge 3 (J McKee, B McCandless, S Dowds) Lisnagarvey 1 (T Cockram); Men’s final: Monkstown 2 (P Caruth 2) Banbridge 1 (J McKee).
Women’s semi-finals: Railway Union 1 (A Speers) Pegasus 1 (V Surgeoner) (aet, Railway win 4-3 on penalty shuttles); Loreto 1 (S Clarke) UCD 3 (A O’Flanagan 2, N Evans); Women’s final: UCD 1 (K Mullan) Railway Union 1 (K Dillon) (aet, UCD win 2-1 on penalty shuttles).
Men’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final: Cork C of I 4 (S Sweetnam 2, J Jermyn, N Buttimer) Cork Harlequins 3 (J Hobbs 2, D Hobbs).
Men’s Munster Junior Cup final: Catholic Institute 6 (E Callender 2, S Brickenden, J Wallace, B Downes, J O’Sullivan) Limerick 3 (T Clarke 2, D Cardy).