The first round of the Irish Hockey League quickly descended into a nightmare for the majority of Munster sides, with Catholic Institute’s 3-1 win over Greenfields the sole bright spot.
Naomi Carroll and Katie Campbell shared the goals in Galway after going behind to a Mary Healy goal early on.
Cork Harlequins led 2-0 at Loreto thanks to goals from Cliodhna Sargent and Rachael Kohler but with Sargent forced off at half-time, they duly conceded four without reply to lose 4-2.
Things were even worse in the men’s competition; Cork Harlequins were never likely to trouble a Three Rock Rovers side riding high on a first Irish Senior Cup success in 40 years, but an 11-0 defeat – the most one-sided scoreline in the competition’s history, eclipsing Railway Union’s 9-0 win over UCC in 2011 – was nonetheless tough to take.
Cork Church of Ireland didn’t have an enjoyable day in Banbridge either, losing 7-2 and seeing Stephen Parker red-carded for an off-the-ball incident with Phil Brown.
There was much better news for Munster in the women’s Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals, where Bandon notched a superb 4-1 win over Hermes, underpinned by Ciara McCarthy’s hat-trick.
They are joined in the semi-finals by Cork Harlequins, for whom Alma Carey notched a pair of short corner strikes in a 2-0 success over local rivals Cork C of I.
Quins’ men also booked a place in the last four with an impressive 5-1 win over Instonians, Paul Lombard and Killian Deasy bagging doubles.
More success on the national stage came in the Irish Hockey Challenge; Clonakilty’s 6-0 win over Gorey means they’ll contest the women’s final, while Jonny Powell, Cathal Duggan and David Cardy fired Limerick into the men’s decider with a 3-1 victory at Armagh.
Domestically, Ashton’s flurry of first-half goals saw them win 3-0 at Fermoy; the north Cork side dominated the second half but couldn’t find a way through and defeat ensures they will finish bottom of Division 1.
Whether they will be relegated depends on the form and desire of Cashel/New Inn; they are 11 points off the lead in Division 2 with five games in hand. A top two placing would be enough to earn promotion.
Amy Roberts hit a double hat-trick in Cork C of I’s facile 12-1 win over UL while UCC won 4-1 in Bandon to keep their faint title hopes alive.
In the men’s top tier, Fionn O’Leary’s second-half hat-trick rescued a draw for UCC as they came from 3-0 down in Bandon, after Ali Smith’s double and Dave Smith had the hosts in control.
Men
Irish Hockey League Rd 1: Pool A: Cookstown 2 (M Crooks, J Ames) Pembroke 3 (A Sothern 2, C Harte); Instonians 2 (A Patterson, Robinson) Lisnagarvey 4 (A Williamson, A Martin, D Nelson, S Murray) Three Rock Rovers 11 (J Bruton 3, D Shirley 2, P Blakeney 2, M Darling, G Ringwood, A White, M Maguire) Cork Harlequins 0; Pool B: Monkstown 4 (G Watkins 2, D Carson, L Cole) UCD 1 (L Chadwick); Annadale 2 (C Robson, C Allison) Corinthian 2 (K Smith, J Sutton); Banbridge 7 (B McCandless 2, E Magee, S Dowds, O Magee 2, J McKee) Cork C of I 2 (own goal, S Wolfe).
Men’s Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals: Cork Harlequins 5 (P Lombard 2, K Deasy 2, M Lombard) Instonians 1; Three Rock Rovers 3 Monkstown 4; Lisnagarvey 1 Pembroke Wanderers 4; Banbridge 2 Cookstown 5.
Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Armagh 1 (M Russell) Limerick 3 (C Duggan, J Powell, D Cardy); Portrush 5 (A Kerr 2, A Christie, N McMaster, G Christie) Bray 0.
Munster Div 1: Bandon 3 (A Smith 2, D Smith) UCC 3 (F O’Leary 3).
Women
Irish Hockey League Rd 1: Pool A: Greenfields 1 (M Healy) Catholic Institute 3 (N Carroll 2, K Campbell); Railway Union 7 (S Dooley 2, A Speers 2, J McDonnell, J O’Halloran, K Dillon) Lurgan 0; UCD 1 (G Pinder) Hermes 0; Pool B: Loreto 4 (H Matthews 2, N Keegan, N Small) Cork Harlequins 2 (C Sargent, R Kohler); Pegasus 5 (V Surgeoner 2, N Graham, K McConnell, S Ferris) Old Alex 2 (F McDermott, E Hinkson); Ards 4 (C Brown 3, S Alexander) Ballymoney 0.
Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals: Bandon 4 (C McCarthy 3, K Desmond) Hermes 1; Cork C of I 0 Cork Harlequins 2 (A Carey 2); Pembroke Wanderers 1 Pegasus 0.
Irish Hockey Challenge semi-final: Clonakilty 6 Gorey 0.
Women’s Div 1: Cork C of I 12 (A Roberts 6, J Barry 2, P Wolfe 2, A O’Regan, M O’Mahony) UL 1 (R Nyhan); Fermoy 0 Ashton 3 (C McCarthy, M Barry, T Johnson); Bandon 1 UCC 4.
