Cregan inspires rampant Insta

Women’s Division 1 Catholic Institute 5 (Eimear Cregan 2, Katie Campbell, Alison English, Christine O’Shea) Cork Harlequins 1 (Abby Oakes) Catholic Institute stormed back into title contention as they shattered Cork Harlequins’ 100% record with a 5-1 win at Rosbrien on Saturday.

Ireland U18 starlet Abby Oakes had cancelled out Eimear Cregan’s opener to leave the game finely poised at half-time. But Insta blew Quins away in the second half with Cregan in irresistible form against her old club, setting up Katie Campbell for a goal before scoring a cracker herself. Ali English and Christine O’Shea were also on target. Institute can go level on points with Quins if they win their games in hand, while the result also reignites the hopes of second-placed UCC, with the three sides having to play each other once more. Limerick 1 (Aoife Williams) Fermoy 1 (Maeve Murphy) Fermoy were disappointed not to take all three points away to Limerick, as Aoife Williams finished off a swift late counter-attack to rescue a draw for the hosts. Maeve Murphy’s short corner bash had put Fermoy ahead in a game where they had plenty of chances but not enough goals. But the two points secured moves them five clear of basement side UL, who have a battle on their hands now to avoid the wooden spoon. Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 3 UL 3 (Sorcha Carey, Laura Peters, Steph Peters) Muckross 3 (Orla Ryan 2, Sarah Green) UL were able to put their league woes to one side and continue their excellent progress through the Irish Hockey Trophy after a thriller  in Limerick on Saturday. Sorcha Carey finished off a one-on-one with Jane Coyne to put UL in front but the Dubliners equalised when Sarah Green found a gap at the near post when a short corner was pushed back to her.

Sisters Laura and Steph Peters then converted a pair of well-worked corners to seemingly put UL in command at 3-1. But Muckross’ Orla Ryan had other ideas, first using her skills to create space to shoot to the left corner before equalising to force extra time. Ryan was subsequently hospitalised after a raised ball lacerated her elbow, and although Muckross pushed hardest in extra-time, UL keeper Elaine O’Flynn came up trumps with two penalty shootout saves to send her side through. Bray 0 Cork C of I 4 (Pamela Wolfe, Jen Barry, Mel Ryan, Ali O’Regan) UL were joined in the quarter-finals by Cork C of I, who had too much for Bray and won 4-0 in Co Wicklow with a pair of goals in each half. Pam Wolfe scored the first mid way through the first half, slotting home after finding herself face to face with the keeper. Jen Barry followed up with a straight shot short corner just before half time. Their third came when Mel Ryan’s short corner shot was deflected in off a defender with 20 minutes to go. Ali O’Regan scored the goal of the game with five to go after starting the move off at the half way, laying off to Amy Roberts and then picking off the return pass to tap in at the left post. Bandon 1 (Roisin O’Mahony) Belfast Harlequins 5 Belfast Harlequins underlined their credentials as title favourites with a 5-1 demolition of Bandon, another successful visit to Cork for them following a 6-0 defeat of Ashton in round two. The clinical visitors, inspired by former Irish U18 Jenna Watt, were three goals to the good off four chances at the break and added two more in the second half. Bandon improved as the game went on, winning some corners of their own and netting a consolation when Saoirse O’Leary setup captain Roisin O’Mahony to convert.

Men’s Div 1 UCC 0 Cork Harlequins 1 (David Eakins) UCC’s men missed a glorious chance to upset Cork Harlequins again, a 1-0 defeat at the Mardyke all but ending their hopes of automatic Irish Hockey League qualification. David Eakins’ early drag-flick highlighted a quiet first half that saw Quins’ attacking efforts kept largely in check by a superb defensive performance from John Catchpole, although the visitors were without talisman Mark Black. College’s short corner unit failed to function – they missed three first-half opportunities – but the students, themselves down Andrew Scannell, dominated the second period, with Greg Chambers and Stuart O’Grady failing to convert their best opportunities. Chambers – who was also green carded twice on an eventful afternoon – saw his close-range, first-time effort saved by Nigel Bryan after being setup by Fionn O’Leary. O’Grady stretched to get on the end of Andy Colton’s crash from the left but with Bryan beaten, his effort went the wrong side of the upright. Cork Harlequins B 0 Bandon 1 (Mark Deane) A very welcome win for Bandon, their first of the season, which will provide a boost to morale as they bid to avoid the wooden spoon in Division 1. Quins had just 10 players for this game and Bandon made most of the running, with skipper Mark Deane firing a drag down the middle of the goal to ensure his side took all three points. Cork C of I B 0 Cork C of I 4 A workmanlike performance from C of I did the necessary here to secure three points against their own seconds and maintain their 100% record for the season so far.