Heavy hitters claim easy opening day wins

Mismatches were the order of the opening day of the hockey season in Munster, with a glut of goals arriving at grounds around the province this afternoon. Pick of the ties on paper was Cork Harlequins’ meeting with Bandon. The west Cork outfit traditionally give a good account of themselves against Quins, and with the hosts missing half a dozen players through injury, could have been forgiven for targeting a shock win. However, Quins ran out comfortable 5-0 winners without ever getting out of third gear, leaving Bandon with much to ponder, notably how often they gave away possession cheaply in the middle third. An even start ensured there wasn’t a shot in anger at the target for the opening 12 minutes, but it wasn’t long before Quins opened their account, Brian Hayes Curtin pouncing on a rebound after Dan Hobbs’ drag had been saved by Ian Hosford. Hobbs departed soon after due to an injury precaution, and with John Hobbs also on the missing list, Quins struggled at corner time, putting away just one of the following eight set-pieces. One such effort was goal-bound in the 21st minute only to be blocked by a Bandon foot, and Paul Lombard dispatched the resultant stroke for 2-0.

Hosford was by far the busier of the two keepers, with Dutch debutant Reinout Mensink rarely troubled at the Quins end bar having to bat away a stinging Aaron Beamish reverse after a great turn from the livewire Ali Smith. But Quins killed off any lingering Bandon hopes with two tidy goals from play inside as many minutes after the break. Paul Lombard rounded Hosford before flicking back across for Paul Murray to tap in, before Lee d’Alton had all the time in the world to flick home from the penalty spot after being left all alone in the circle. Graham Kingston blasted a reverse over when squaring to Smith might have been a better option as Bandon sought a consolation, but their day was summed up when Scott Sullivan was yellow-carded for breaking down play on 61 minutes, only for Paul Lombard to escape any sanction for a similar offence minutes later. A brilliant mid-air reaction block on the line from Jack Robinson thwarted David Egner from getting Quins’ fifth, but that duly arrived after the final whistle when Darren Farrell dispatched a neat drag to the bottom corner for the game’s last act. Elsewhere, Cork C of I had a predictably easy win over Quins B; John Jermyn claimed a hat-trick in a 9-1 annihilation, with Stephen Parker bagging a double and skipper David Hobbs, Andy Daunt, Adam Pritchard and Nick Burns also rattling the backboard. New signing Ross Bateman claimed Quins’ consolation. Waterford were given a rude awakening to what life in the women’s Division One might be like as they went down 4-0 at C of I. Mel Ryan’s beautiful reverse got them off to a flyer, before new arrival Cathy Kenefick marked her debut with a belter from the top of the circle.

Grace Young and Julie O’Sullivan added corner strikes to put a gloss on the win, in which Sinead Connery and Old Alex recruit Suzanne O’Connor also impressed alongside young guns Amy Kate Trevor and Emily Reidy. Catholic Institute got their season off the a flyer too, trouncing an out-of-sorts UL 6-0 in the Limerick derby. Elaine Bromell scored on her first game back for the Rosbrien outfit, with Munster U18 duo Naomi Carroll and Rebecca Barry, plus Edel Higgins, Katie Campbell and Rosie Pratt claiming the others. Audrey O’Flynn was in typically menacing drag-flicking form as the UCC skipper inspired her side to an easy 7-1 defeat of Ashton at the Mardyke. The Ireland A centre-back claimed three of her side’s goals, with fellow College stalwarts Julia O’Halloran, Eibhlin O’Donoghue and Ali O’Regan chipping in with one each, while there was a debut goal for Kate Murphy. Cliodhna Murphy grabbed one back for Ashton.