Gray guides CIT to varsity glory

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) claimed a memorable first ever win at the men’s Irish Hockey Intervarsities at Belfield, UCD yesterday, defeating Dublin City University 2-1 in the final. The Bishopstown outfit were not, however, awarded the Mauritius Cup, which will instead reside in DCU for the year, due to CIT’s non-university status and their presence in the tournament as a guest side. Nonetheless, their victory will live long in the memory, particularly that of captain Roger Gray, who bagged the second-half double to secure victory and finished the tournament with six goals to his name. DCU – who had earlier stunned UCC 1-0 in the last four, denying the chance of a novel all-Cork final – struck first through a fine individual strike from Luke Hayden, and reverted to a rearguard action that often saw all of their outfielders camped inside their own 25. CIT’s corner unit was failing to fire as they couldn’t find a way past DCU’s former Ireland U18 keeper Stephen West – later named player of the tournament – and they were still behind when the break arrived. But the surging runs of Gray, Darren Beamish and Ali Smith continued to create the set-pieces, and Gray eventually levelled it ten minutes into the second half, getting a second bite at the cherry after scuffing his first effort. There was nothing fortunate about the captain’s winning strike soon after though – this time, the Munster U21 captain danced around the first runner and rifled home the drag-flick. DCU briefly threatened at the other end when winning their sole corner of the game, but Glenanne drag-flicker Stephen Brownlow’s effort was well saved by Harry Fleming. CIT were deserving winners, having come through their pool with a 100% record, nothing in the goals against column and just a single short corner conceded. Champions UU were seen off at this stage, amazingly exiting the competition without a point to their name. The other pool was far more keenly contested, with UCC eventually prevailing after completing a shock 3-1 win over pre-tournament favourites UCD, thanks to quickfire second-half goals from Andy Gray and Colin Manning. Gray had previously cancelled out Shane O’Donnell’s opener, while a string of slick saves from Brian Corcoran – who, along with team-mate Fionn O’Leary and UCD’s Ben Dobson, was a surprise omission from the Irish Universities triallists’ panel – kept UCC on top. That gave them the easier side of the draw in the last four, but another defensive effort from DCU – plus a shocking umpiring decision which denied UCC a penalty stroke in the dying minutes – ended their hopes. The other semi-final produced arguably the game of the tournament, as CIT defeated UCD 3-2. Shane O’Donnell’s drag was just reward for the Dubliners’ early dominance, before a John Hobbs switch-flick restored parity just before the break. Ireland A forward Ali Smith then took the game by the scruff of the neck, with two solo goals in as many minutes. Smith had developed a habit of scoring spectacular goals in the pool stages, but saved his best two for the big occasion. The first saw him dance past two defenders before lofting the ball over the advancing keeper with a deft, full-length jab, before he rifled an unstoppable shot into the far corner after skinning O’Donnell on the right. UCD – for whom Luke Chadwick starred in midfield – poured forward in the final minutes, and that pressure eventually told in the form of a penalty stroke, which Dobson dispatched. But the equaliser eluded them to send CIT through. The win means Cork GAA All Star Aidan Walsh has another medal to add to his collection. The 20-year-old lined out at centre back in his first ever hockey competition, while the dual star’s Cork senior hurling colleague Lorcan McLoughlin – also new to the sport – played an effective role up front. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, UCC’s hopes of claiming back the Chilean Cup were dashed at the semi-final stage once more, in a tight 2-1 defeat to eventual winners UCD. College had emerged from their pool in second place, losing out to UU on goal difference after drawing 1-1 with the northern girls. UU went on to comfortably defeat Trinity 2-0 in the other semi. UCD topped the other group, but not without a couple of scares along the way, namely from Trinity, who missed a late penalty stroke in their encounter – Caitriona McGilp’s strike the only difference between the sides. Trinity’s 5-0 win over RCSI and 2-1 over Queens meant a draw could have seen them top the group. The final was a repeat of last year’s decider, but UCD never looked in trouble as they cruised to a fully-deserved 2-0 win over a UU side who rarely threatened in the hosts’ 25. Rosie Carrigan – who scored the extra-time winner to see off UCC in the 2008 final – netted the first from a scrappy corner melée, before Chloe Watkins made sure of victory with a beautifully-struck bullet after a corner rebound fell her way to the right of the goal. Cork’s other women’s representatives, CIT, can take solace from their improved showing on last year’s performances. Although heavily beaten by fancied UCC and UU sides on day one, they recovered to record a first win in two years – 2-0 over NUIG – and a 5-3 loss to DCU disguises the fact that the Dubliners claimed their final goal from a breakaway while CIT desperately went in search of an equaliser. Men’s Mauritius Cup final CIT 2 (Roger Gray 2) DCU 1 (Luke Hayden) Women’s Chilean Cup final UU 0 UCD 2 (Rosie Carrigan, Chloe Watkins)