UCC let a two-goal lead slip against Cork Church of Ireland for the second week in a row, as the Garryduff outfit claimed a 2-2 draw on Saturday which has dented both sides’ title ambitions.
The result will be most pleasing for Cork Harlequins and Catholic Institute, as it was the first time any of the top four had dropped points this season.
In the only top-flight game to go ahead in Munster as frozen pitches wreaked havoc, Eibhlín O’Donoghue put College ahead from the penalty spot, after Mel Ryan had illegally blocked Audrey O’Flynn’s goal-bound drag-flick.
That lead was doubled when Fiona O’Connell bashed home Olivia Roycroft’s centre, but College let their standards slip in the second half and allowed C of I to come back into contention.
Suzanne O’Connor pulled one back when she squeezed a reverse under Zoe Cremin – deputising in goal for College in the absence of Karen Olden – before Grace Young was left unmarked to ram home the equaliser.
With College set to lose Julia O’Halloran and O’Flynn to Ireland duty for long periods in the new year, they will be disappointed to have dropped a point against one of their rivals this side of Christmas.
Simon MacAllister’s pictures from this game are available here.
