Institute lay down the law

Catholic Institute have reaffirmed their status as title favourites over the past couple of weekends, as they maintained their 100% record with victories over Cork Harlequins and Bandon. The Limerick side took a significant step toward breaking the Quins stranglehold in Munster, as they swept to a 3-1 victory at Rosbrien last Saturday. Eimear Cregan struck against her former club while Claire Sullivan and Elaine Brommell were also on target, with Cliodhna Sargent getting the sole response for Quins’ from the penalty spot.

And this weekend they headed to west Cork knowing Bandon – also unbeaten this season and lying in third spot – could provide a major banana skin. But Institute negotiated the game with ease, running out 6-1 victors as the hosts had no answer to their skilful build-up play, Bromell and Cregan both bagging braces. Cork Harlequins were worked very hard by Cork C of I before eventually emerging with a 2-0 win at Garryduff, thanks to goals in either half from Cliodhna Sargent and Orlagh Cotter. Sargent got Quins off the mark early on with a trademark rocket of a short corner strike, but C of I  – again made up of a majority of U18 players – weren’t afraid to take the game to their much-vaunted opponents. Emily Reidy showed leadership beyond her years and was never easy for the Quins defence to handle, while in Alex O’Grady they have a real find for the future at right-back. Rachel O’Hanlon and Amy Kate Trevor also had eye-catching moments, but C of I’s lack of ruthlessness at corner time cost them. They outnumbered Quins by 8 to 3 in this facet, but rarely looked like troubling Vanessa Sargent, and with Rachel McSharry dictating affairs in the middle, they eventually got the security goal when the always-dangerous Cotter tapped in on the back post. Meanwhile, doubles from forwards Vicky O’Sullivan and Ali O’Regan helped UCC see off Ashton 5-0, with Ali O’Connor nabbing the other, ensuring there was no intervarsities hangover for the Mardyke girls. Arguably the biggest result of the weekend, however, was UL scoring their first goals and also gaining their first points of the season with a 2-1 win away to Belvedere.

Having thrashed the Limerick girls 7-1 en route to promotion, Belvedere had every right to feel confident about this one but instead found themselves at the bottom of the table, after Steph Peters hit the winner after the hosts’ Fiona Murphy and Laura Davis had swapped strikes. The table now has a slightly more settled look to it; Institute lead the way with a 100% record and six from six, while UCC are four points adrift, assuming they have been awarded the three points from UL’s no-show a few weeks ago. Quins lie in third, but Bandon and Ashton are both within touching distance two points further back. Those sides played out a lively 2-2 draw seven days ago, when Lorna Dennehy and Sarah Sullivan had given Bandon the lead but Caroline McCarthy struck late to earn a share of the spoils. UCC’s visit to Institute next weekend should say much about whether they have the credentials to halt Ger O’Carroll’s side’s early-season march, while Quins can put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack with victory at Ashton. Women’s Div 1 UCC 5 (V O’Sullivan 2, A O’Regan 2, A O’Connor) Ashton 0 Bandon 1 (S Sullivan) Catholic Institute 6 (E Bromell 2, E Cregan 2, N Carroll, R Pratt) Cork C of I 0 Cork Harlequins 2 (C  Sargent, O Cotter) Belvedere 1 (F Murphy) UL 2 (L Davis, S Peters)