Corcoran saves the best ’til last as Bandon progress

Bandon goalkeeper Brian Corcoran saved two penalty strokes to ensure his side pulled off a remarkable Irish Junior Cup first-round victory over Mossley on Saturday. Things weren’t looking good for the underdogs from west Cork, as they went 2-0 down inside half an hour. But two Graham Kingston strikes hauled them level, and after a scoreless extra-time, Corcoran kept out the northerners’ first two strokes to help his side to a 4-2 shoot-out victory. In the preliminary round, brothers Andy and Roger Gray dumped last season’s finalists Annadale out of the tournament at the first hurdle, helping Cork Church of Ireland to a 3-1 win. Connor Allison had given the Belfast side an early lead from a short corner rebound, but two Andy Gray short corner strikes had C of I ahead at the break. Brother Roger got in on the act in the second half, setting up a first-round derby clash with Cork rivals Harlequins. Cookstown were surprisingly easy 3-1 winners over Banbridge, while Pembroke Wanderers’ bid for a third consecutive title is still alive as they defeated Kilkeel 3-1. There wasn’t such good news for Pembroke’s ladies however, as they were surprisingly beaten on strokes by Galway, following a 1-1 stalemate.

Elsewhere, Bandon went down 3-1 at Loreto, Cork C of I needed a golden goal to see off Lurgan 2-1 and Cork Harlequins posted a 1-0 win over Ulster Elks thanks to Trish Moloney’s strike. But the result of the day came at Portadown, where goals from Jenny Owens and Ciara O’Hanlon saw UCC post a shock win. It was also a good weekend for the Cork students’ men, who got off the mark in the Munster men’s Division One with an 8-2 thumping of Catholic Institute, with David Herbert claiming a hat-trick. In the women’s league, 14-year-old Leanne Mullins got her first senior goal for Cork Harlequins as they routed Ashton 4-0. Cliona O’Connor helped herself to a double and Karen Bateman rounded off the scoring for the champions, who have a perfect five wins from five thus far. Another teen prodigy, Naomi Carroll, gave Catholic Institute a 1-0 win over Belvedere, while Mel Ryan, Suzy Herbert and Amy Roberts helped Cork C of I to a 3-1 win over UL, for whom Fenagh Smith was on target. In the women’s Division Two, Waterford felt the full benefit of having a recent former international in their ranks, as Kristin Farrell, who has returned from Hermes, hit five goals in a 9-0 rout of Moyne/Thurles that also featured an Eileen Guiry hat-trick. Fermoy and Cork Harlequins shared ten goals in a gripping Division Three clash, but the north Cork side bagged seven of them to keep the pressure up on leaders Belvedere, who are now just a point to the good. Meanwhile, Limerick remounted their challenge for the men’s Division Two title in fine style, with Bruce Hayes and Roger Clarke both netting twice in a 5-2 blitz of Quins C. Quins D continue to lead the way in Division Three, and they laid down a serious statement of intent by hammering second-placed Catholic Institute 5-0, taking their tally for the season to 30 goals in five games. But they yet face a strong challenge from Midleton, who underlined their credentials by hammering basement UCC C 8-0, with Alister Murphy bagging a hat-trick. Earlier in the day, a Phil Lecane drag-flick saved the students’ B side from defeat against Belvedere, salvaging a 1-1 draw.