Hobbs makes it seven out of seven for Quins

Cork Harlequins ensured they emerged unscathed from their battles with UCC this season, notching a priceless 1-0 Munster league victory at the Mardyke. Dan Hobbs’ first-half short corner strike was all that separated the sides, though David Egner and Phil McLaughlin both spurned good chances as Quins went for the jugular in the middle part of the game. The second half largely belonged to College, with Andrew Gray and Adam O’Callaghan firefighting well at the back while Shrew Power had a goal chalked off and Roger Gray was beaten by the whistle as he wound up with the goal gaping. Gray took efforts from Phil O’Driscoll and Rob Hobbs off the line while O’Callaghan’s diving tackle denied Lee d’Alton when he was winding up from six yards out. Quins saw Rob Hobbs and John Sweetnam yellow-carded either side of the break – both for dissent – but College failed to take advantage as they didn’t get Gray or Fionn O’Leary into shooting positions often enough, and paid the price as Quins left with the points. They remain top with seven wins from seven, while Cork C of I leapfrogged College into second after they cruised to an 11-1 win over Institute, with Stephen Sweetnam continuing his hot streak with a hat-trick while David Hobbs and Clinton Sweetnam claimed two each.

Gary Wilkinson, Philip Sweetnam, Shane O’Donnell and Nigel Buttimer racked up the others, with Simon Brickenden replying for Institute. Quins B claimed the result of the day, notching an unlikely 2-2 draw in Bandon that was littered with controversy. David Smith deflected in the hosts’ opener from a corner move while Melvin Beamish missed a hat-trick of opportunities to extend the lead. Those misses were punished when Richard Barrett converted a twice-taken penalty stroke — with Bandon claiming, to no avail, that it was executed illegally — to level it. Scott Sullivan and Ricky Roycroft were both sin-binned in the second half to hamper Bandon’s comeback, but Sullivan did put them back in front with a corner bash four minutes from time. Quins’ Peter Carroll then saw red for repeated dissent, but that didn’t stop his side winning a short corner on the whistle — and Mark Lombard deflected home Paul Murray’s hit with the game’s least act to equalise again. The women’s league ties all went as expected, with Catholic Institute again inflicting a heavy defeat. Bandon were the victims this time, Eimear Cregan notching four in a 9-0 win, taking her personal total to 21 in seven games this term. Rebecca Barry also scored on her final game back for her childhood club before she returns to Richmond Spiders in America, while Katie Campbell and Naomi Carroll claimed braces apiece. Also in Limerick, Quins saw off a depleted UL 6-1 — gaining revenge for their shock defeat on the opening day of the campaign — with Karen Bateman blasting a hat-trick and Cliodhna Sargent a brace, while Leslie Ann Daunt claimed the other. Skipper Steph Peters replied for the students. Deirdre Keohane’s stunner set the tone for Ashton as they went on to beat Cork C of I 3-0, Emma Harrington and Michelle Barry also on target in a result that lifts them above Bandon into fourth, with a game in hand. Men’s Div 1 Cork C of I 11 (S Sweetnam 3, C Sweetnam 2, David Hobbs 2, G Wilkinson, S O’Donnell, P Sweetnam, N Buttimer) Catholic Institute 1 (S Brickenden); UCC 0 Cork Harlequins 1 (Dan Hobbs); Bandon 2 (D Smith, S Sullivan) Cork Harlequins B 2 (R Barrett, M Lombard); Women’s Div 1 UL 1 (S Peters) Cork Harlequins 6 (K Bateman 3, C Sargent 2, LA Daunt); Ashton 3 (D Keohane, E Harrington, M Barry) Cork C of I 0; Catholic Institute 9 (E Cregan 4, K Campbell 2, N Carroll 2, R Barry) Bandon 0; National Indoor Trophy finals, NBA, Tallaght Men Final: Three Rock Rovers 5 (R Canning 2, P McConnell, P Maguire, C Huet) NICS 1 (R Cowden); Semi-finals: Clontarf 3 (A Poynter 2, J Gurbiel) NICS 4 (A Hay 2, G Grundie, P Johnston); Three Rock Rovers 4 (M Maguire, P Maguire, P McConnell, G Ringwood) Railway Union 3 (R Abbott 2, E MacArthur, K Carroll); Women Final: Ards 3 (K Bennett 2, C Brown) Hermes 2 (C McGilp, O Patton) Semi-finals: Ards 3 (L Mills, C Brown, N Elliott) Railway Union 2 (S Dooley, K Dillon); Hermes 4 (K McComish 3, S Hoban-Logan) Glenanne 4 (C Nugent 2, D Kieran 2); (Hermes win 2-1 on penalty strokes)