Cork Harlequins and Fermoy both made big moves at either end of the table to set up a grandstand finale to the Munster women’s Division 1.
A pair of Karen Bateman goals rewarded Quins’ dominance in their 2-0 victory over title rivals Catholic Institute, who were without injured Irish international star striker Naomi Carroll and thus were forced into defensive mode.
Bateman converted a one-on-one from close range after 10 minutes before cracking home another midway through the second half off Rachael Kohler’s through ball, with Insta struggling to trouble Quins goalkeeper Vanessa Sargent.
It means a draw will do enough for Quins to retain their crown in the return clash at Rosbrien next month, but an Institute victory could set up the fascinating scenario of a three-way tie with UCC.
The students kept the pressure up by hammering Ashton 9-1, pulling away in the second half after being shocked by an early goal from the hosts’ Emma Harrington. Aine Curran and Miriam Crowley shared five goals.
Two 15-year-olds made the vital interventions for Fermoy as they kept their slim survival hopes alive with a 2-1 win at UL.
Needing a win to keep their fate in their own hands, that looked out of their reach after last weekend’s 4-0 capitulation at home to Simon Brickenden’s Limerick students.
Munster U16 midfielder Niamh Sexton saw a penalty stroke saved by UL netminder Elaine O’Flynn after just 40 seconds, but Fermoy recovered from that setback as Sexton cancelled out Sorcha Carey’s opener with an instinctive finish off a short corner rebound.
A tense second half saw both sides raid the opposition circle with UL looking likeliest to score, but Fermoy made their big chance count four minutes from time. Sexton turned over ball in her own half and her 50-metre pass released fellow Junior Cert student Sophie Merry, who sent Trish Fitzpatrick clear on O’Flynn to flick home the winner.
With UL then crashing to a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Limerick on Saturday – Irish Universities star Laura Peters netting twice – it opens the door for Fermoy to leapfrog them, although the chances are slim. The result also assures Limerick that the worst finish they can achieve is joint last.
C of I will fly the flag for Munster in the last eight of the Irish Hockey Trophy after winning 4-1 at Avoca with Claire Hickey’s brace underpinning an impressive display. Bandon took an early lead against Naas but were pegged back almost immediately and fell 3-1 at the Kildare venue.
Cork Harlequins re-entered the race for the second Irish Hockey League berth with two wins this weekend, a 6-0 dismissal of C of I B before a rather more impressive 3-1 success at Bandon with Dan Hobbs on target twice.
*Picture of Fermoy goalscorer Trish Fiztpatrick and UL’s Elaine Breen with thanks to Eric Barry / Blink of an Eye; you can see more here.
Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins 6 (J Dale, M Lombard 2, S Ross, J Hobbs, D Egner) Cork C of I B 0; Bandon 1 (D Jennings) Cork Harlequins 3 (D Hobbs 2, S Ross).
Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins 2 (K Bateman 2) Catholic Institute 0; Ashton 1 (E Harrington) UCC 9 (A Curran 3, M Crowley 2, K Harvey, E Dobson, two own goals); UL 1 (S Carey) Fermoy 2 (N Sexton, T Fitzpatrick); UL 0 Limerick 3 (L Peter 2, L Shuker).
Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 3: Avoca 1 Cork C of I 4 (C Hickey 2, A O’Regan, E Rumley); Naas 3 Bandon 1; NICS 6 Larne 7; NUIG 4 Omagh 2; Our Lady’s 6 North Down 7; Dromore 1 Rathgar 3.
It means a draw will do enough for Quins to retain their crown in the return clash at Rosbrien next month, but an Institute victory could set up the fascinating scenario of a three-way tie with UCC.
The students kept the pressure up by hammering Ashton 9-1, pulling away in the second half after being shocked by an early goal from the hosts’ Emma Harrington. Aine Curran and Miriam Crowley shared five goals.
Two 15-year-olds made the vital interventions for Fermoy as they kept their slim survival hopes alive with a 2-1 win at UL.
Needing a win to keep their fate in their own hands, that looked out of their reach after last weekend’s 4-0 capitulation at home to Simon Brickenden’s Limerick students.
Munster U16 midfielder Niamh Sexton saw a penalty stroke saved by UL netminder Elaine O’Flynn after just 40 seconds, but Fermoy recovered from that setback as Sexton cancelled out Sorcha Carey’s opener with an instinctive finish off a short corner rebound.
A tense second half saw both sides raid the opposition circle with UL looking likeliest to score, but Fermoy made their big chance count four minutes from time. Sexton turned over ball in her own half and her 50-metre pass released fellow Junior Cert student Sophie Merry, who sent Trish Fitzpatrick clear on O’Flynn to flick home the winner.
With UL then crashing to a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Limerick on Saturday – Irish Universities star Laura Peters netting twice – it opens the door for Fermoy to leapfrog them, although the chances are slim. The result also assures Limerick that the worst finish they can achieve is joint last.
C of I will fly the flag for Munster in the last eight of the Irish Hockey Trophy after winning 4-1 at Avoca with Claire Hickey’s brace underpinning an impressive display. Bandon took an early lead against Naas but were pegged back almost immediately and fell 3-1 at the Kildare venue.
Cork Harlequins re-entered the race for the second Irish Hockey League berth with two wins this weekend, a 6-0 dismissal of C of I B before a rather more impressive 3-1 success at Bandon with Dan Hobbs on target twice.
*Picture of Fermoy goalscorer Trish Fiztpatrick and UL’s Elaine Breen with thanks to Eric Barry / Blink of an Eye; you can see more here.
Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins 6 (J Dale, M Lombard 2, S Ross, J Hobbs, D Egner) Cork C of I B 0; Bandon 1 (D Jennings) Cork Harlequins 3 (D Hobbs 2, S Ross).
Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins 2 (K Bateman 2) Catholic Institute 0; Ashton 1 (E Harrington) UCC 9 (A Curran 3, M Crowley 2, K Harvey, E Dobson, two own goals); UL 1 (S Carey) Fermoy 2 (N Sexton, T Fitzpatrick); UL 0 Limerick 3 (L Peter 2, L Shuker).
Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 3: Avoca 1 Cork C of I 4 (C Hickey 2, A O’Regan, E Rumley); Naas 3 Bandon 1; NICS 6 Larne 7; NUIG 4 Omagh 2; Our Lady’s 6 North Down 7; Dromore 1 Rathgar 3.