Women’s Irish Senior Cup Rd 2
Catholic Institute 1 (Elaine Bromell) Pegasus 3 (Suzanne Beaney, Michelle Harvey, Steph Quinn)
Catholic Institute’s Irish Senior Cup dream died as Pegasus adapted better to the post-Christmas rustiness to win 3-1 as the sides’ tie finally went ahead at Rosbrien at the third time of asking.
Neither side had played in a month but Pegs struck a hammer blow when Suzanne Beaney converted a corner on the stroke of half-time.
Irish international pair Michelle Harvey and Steph Quinn also converted set-pieces for the Belfast girls with Elaine Bromell hitting back for Insta from the penalty spot after a goal-bound shot had hit a Pegs foot on the line.
Women’s Division 1
Cork Harlequins 2 (Rachel McSharry, Cliodhna Sargent) Cork C of I 0
Cork Harlequins took control of the women’s Division One after coming through a double weekend unscathed.
Although their squad was ravaged by illness, injury and unavailability, they had too much in the tank for C of I in the second of their weekend games after weathering a tough first half.
Ali O’Regan, Ali O’Connor and Jen Hales drove the Garryduff girls on and were unlucky not to be in front at the break when O’Connor saw her penalty stroke saved by Vanessa Sargent.
But Quins hit the front when Claire Bergin found Rachel McSharry and she reverse swept the ball under the onrushing Holly Moore.
Cliodhna Sargent made it two when arrowing home a reverse off a trademark surge from centre-back while Alex O’Grady was
unfortunate not to be rewarded for a fine performance against her former club with a goal late on as Moore saved well, coming after Leanne Mullins had hit the post.
Fermoy 0 Cork Harlequins 6
Kay Gaffney and Acacia Taylor starred while Ireland U18 Abby Oakes made a welcome return from injury as Quins saw off basement side Fermoy 6-0 on Saturday.
Quins have now won nine from nine and lead UCC by seven points, though the students have a game in hand with third-placed Insta having two.
Limerick 5 (Jenni Lyttle 3, Lorraine McGowan, Gillian Quigley) UL 2 (Rachelle Nyhan, Nicola Deegan)
A controversial equaliser and a much-improved second-half performance helped Limerick complete a Treaty city double over UL.
George Blackwell’s students hit the front through Rachelle Nyhan’s deflected short corner effort, only to be pegged back by a similar strike from Lorraine McGowan.
Nicola Deegan picked off a rebound to put UL in front again on the stroke of half-time only for Jenni Lyttle to level it once more, the goal standing despite UL protestations that the former Munster U18 captain had illegally played the ball on the ground.
That was the catalyst for an avalanche of goals as Lyttle grabbed one from play and another from a corner to complete her treble, with Gillian Quigley chipping in with her side’s fifth.
Victory moves them onto eight points and above Bandon into sixth place, with the relegation battle looking increasingly like a two-horse race between UL and Fermoy, both of whom have yet to pick up a point.