Munster sides’ IHL dreams all but dead

Three Rock Rovers came to Cork with seven Irish Hockey League debutants, a clutch of teenagers and little in the way of form — but still left Garryduff with a 2-0 victory that all but ends Church of Ireland’s qualification hopes. Jody Hosking’s angled drive gave them a lead and although Rovers spent most of the game camped in their own 25, Stephen West was in inspired form between the sticks and Alan White hit a breakaway goal to give them a shock victory. Lisnagarvey booked their place in the last four by shrugging off a resolute Annadale 4-2, continuing a 100% record that sees them top Pool B. With YMCA notching a bonus point in their stunning 4-0 dismissal of Dublin rivals Pembroke Wanderers, they need just a point from their final clash at home to Rovers next weekend to join ‘Garvey in the last four.

YM’s potential presence in the semis could see the wildcard playoffs — due to be run off alongside the finals weekend on May 5 and 6 at Lisnagarvey — moved back a fortnight, as the Milltown side are Leinster’s representatives in that competition too. That could create major headaches for UCC, favourites to qualify as Munster’s representative for the wildcards — which decide the final two qualifiers for next season’s IHL — due to clashes with exams. Ulster champions Cookstown showed little signs of heavy legs from the long journey south as they dismantled Cork Harlequins 5-0 at Farmer’s Cross to storm into the semis, Ian Sloan and Greg Allen hitting a brace each. They sit atop Pool A but aren’t guaranteed to finish first as both Banbridge and Monkstown can overhaul them. Bann saved their IHL season in miraculous style, overturning a 5-2 third quarter deficit at home to basement side Instonians to somehow eke out a 6-5 victory, Stephen Dowds dragging home his hat-trick goal with five minutes to go to seal an unlikely success. They’re locked on 10 points with Monkstown, who mugged Glenanne 4-3 in bizarre style in Tallaght. Leading 3-2, Glens pulled their goalkeeper in the final quarter as they chased a fourth goal that would give them a bonus point and a better shot at semi-final qualification next week. But the move backfired spectacularly, as Ross Watkins smacked home into an unguarded net to equalise for Monkstown. And though Glens re-established their GK to the field at that stage, Stephen Cole hit a winner for the Town to add insult to injury. Hermes became the first side to qualify for the women’s semi-finals, their 3-0 win over Catholic Institute dashing the Limerick side’s faint dreams of a last four berth.

Pegasus are best-placed to join them after a 3-0 win over Armagh, leapfrogging UCD who stumbled with a scoreless draw against Old Alex. The students go to Institute next week chasing down a one-point deficit, with Pegasus hosting Hermes. Pool B is a three-horse race after the top two, Loreto and Railway Union, drew 1-1 at Beaufort, with Ballymoney the main beneficiaries as Megan Frazer celebrated her return to her home side’s colours after three seasons in America with two in a 5-0 rout of Lurgan. Two points now separate the top three, with Railway heading to Cork to take on Harlequins next weekend while Loreto and Ballymoney lock horns at the latter’s Joey Dunlop Centre home. Quins are winning the battle of ‘best of the rest’ in Pool B, after Cliodhna Sargent’s brace and one from Kay Gaffney against her old club helped them see off local rivals UCC 3-0. The full set of Deryck Vincent’s superb pictures from Catholic Institute vs Hermes can be viewed and downloaded here. Men ; Irish Hockey League Rd 4: Pool A: C of I 0 TRR 2 (J Hosking, A White); YMCA 4 (M Richardson, I McHugh, R Pedreshi, P Powderly) Pembroke Wanderers 0; Lisnagarvey 4 (T Cockram 2, A Forrest, M Raphael) Annadale 2 (A Williamson 2); Standings: 1. Lisnagarvey 12pts (+6) 2. YMCA 10pts (+1) 3. Annadale 6pts (-2) 4. C of I 6pts (-2) 5. Pembroke 5pts (-4) 6. TRR 4pts (-3). Pool B: Cork Harlequins 0 Cookstown 5 (G Allen, T Smyth, I Sloan 2); Glenanne 3 (J Kane, E O’Malley, D Keogh) Monkstown 4 (N Dee, R O’Moore, A Ward, S Cole); Banbridge 6 (S Dowds 3, O Magee 2, J Moffett) Instonians 5 (W Robinson 2, P Gleghorne, J Watson, M Irwin); Standings: 1. Cookstown 13pts (+10) 2. Monkstown 10pts (+2) 3. Banbridge 10pts (+1) 4. Harlequins 5pts (-8) 5. Glenanne 4pts (-5) 6. Instonians 3pts (-5). Irish Junior Cup semi-finals: Cookstown 3 (G Black, M Wilson) Banbridge 2 (D Anderson, N Kelly)(aet, Cookstown win 4-2 on penalty strokes); Corinthian 3 (C Hennessy 2, A Missen) Lisnagarvey 2 (S McNeice, AN Other); Women Irish Hockey League Rd 4: Pool A: Hermes 3 (C Quinlan, A Connery, L Jacob) Catholic Institute 0; Pegasus 3 (S Beaney 2, V Surgeoner) Armagh 0; UCD 0 Old Alex 0; Standings: 1. Hermes 15pts (+10) 2. Pegasus 11pts (+5) 3. UCD 10pts (+3) 4. Catholic Institute 7pts (-2) 5. Old Alex 3pts (-6) 6. Armagh 1pt (-10). Pool B: Loreto 1 (A Meeke) Railway Union 1 (J O’Halloran); Cork Harlequins 3 (C Sargent 2, K Gaffney) UCC 0; Ballymoney 5 (K Mullan 2, M Frazer 2, N Parke) Lurgan 0.Standings: 1 Loreto 14pts (+13) 2 Railway Union 13pts (+13) 3 Ballymoney 12pts (+8) 4 Cork Harlequins 7pts (-1) 5 Lurgan 2pts (-14) 6 UCC 0pts (-19).