Quins and Bandon raid Ulster

Cork Harlequins reprised their women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup glory days with a shock 1-0 victory at Ards, which leaves them flying the flag for Munster in the quarter-finals. Cliodhna Sargent’s strike proved the difference as Quins overturned a 3-0 Irish Hockey League reverse against the Ulster high-flyers. With Loreto’s trip to Pegasus called off due to the frost, Old Alex’s battle with Pembroke in Milltown took the mantle of Leinster highlight as Erika Hinkson struck twice in the first half to see them home.

Sarah Clarke smashed home a corner strike a minute before the break to set up a testing second half, but an equaliser was not forthcoming in the second period with Alex again set to enjoy home comforts in the quarter-finals where they will play Ballymoney. Goals from Nikki Parke and youth international Katie Mullan ousted the visiting Catholic Institute 2-1 leaving Munster down to just one representative in the last eight. Rachel Burke’s double plundered victory from Belfast Harlequins for UCD, in a tie swiftly switched from Deramore Park to Grosvenor due to an icy playing surface, again 2-1 the winning scoreline. The Belfield students now play Cork Harlequins in the last eight. Hermes had little trouble dispatching Corinthian 8-0, Audrey O’Flynn scoring on her return from an ankle injury to set up a tie with either the Ulster Elks or Armagh, their game postponed due to the frost. Glenanne bowed out at the hands of Ulster leaders Lurgan 2-0. Four women’s Irish Hockey Trophy ties survived the weather with Bandon’s 2-1 win at Ballymena – a clash moved to Larne due to the weather – the pick of the results. Having survived an early scare when Sarah Gray produced a neat save from the Ballymena keeper, the hosts fell behind as Hilary Chapple’s rifled shot was parried over the line for the opener. But Jackie McWilliams was sprung off the Ballymena bench to breathe some life into their attack, as they chalked up a couple of short corners, stoutly defended by Bandon until a 48th-minute move saw the ball deflected past netminder Claire Hayes for the equaliser. That goal re-energised Bandon, who stepped up their game and took a decisive lead from Gray’s perfectly-placed 55th-minute short corner effort – a first top-level goal for the ex-UCC defender since her return from two seasons on the sidelines with a knee injury. Ballymena struck the post while a spectacular save from their goalkeeper denied Bandon in a frenetic finale, the upshot of which is Bandon’s progression to another away tie against either Suttonians or Carrickfergus. They weren’t the only Bandon girls to hit the heights on the day, however; Síle Johnson rifled home a hat-trick to help her NUIG side to a 4-1 win at Waterford, while Hilary Skuse claimed Clontarf’s goal in a 1-1 draw with North Down, after which they progressed on penalties. Ashton can also advance to round two if they beat Wexford on home turf next Saturday.