Quins must get the calculators out

Cork Harlequins’ hopes of progression from Pool B were plunged into a realm of uncertainty after Hermes defeated Clive Seale’s side 3-0 to become the first of the league’s 24 sides to advance to the semi-finals yesterday. Jenny Burke’s double, either side of an Aoife Harte goal, gave Hermes a bonus-point win and a four-point lead at the summit. Only Ballymoney can catch them, ensuring they will go through no matter what the outcome when the sides meet in round five, though Hermes will be determined to maintain their 100% record. The question of who will join them in the last four is as opaque as ever. A Rachael Kohler-less Quins took nothing from their trek to Belfield, though they will be glad their final pool encounter sees them welcome an Armagh side in disarray to Farmer’s Cross.

The injury-hit northerners parted ways with coach Neil Madelely during the week following a string of poor results, but nonetheless showed some early fight against UCD, with Emma Thornbury cancelling out Roisin Flinn’s penalty stroke opener. However, Armagh caved in the second half as a Catriona McGlip double and strikes from Liz McInerney and Lisa Jacob saw UCD home on a 5-1 scoreline. Ballymoney are now favourites to claim the second semi-final spot after they ended Pembroke’s hopes with a 4-2 win at the Joey Dunlop Centre. Two good corners had them 2-0 up thanks to Nikki McCaughern’s deflection and Bridget McKeever’s straight strike. They are now a point clear of Quins and UCD, meaning Quins must better the results of both their rivals to advance, given goal difference is not in their favour. ‘Money and UCD are on +5 and +3 respectively, while Quins’ for and against columns currently cancel each other out, ensuring the calculators will be required at Harlequin Park on April 4. For better or worse, Quins are the first of the trio to play that day – they are on at 1pm, ‘Money take to the Belfield pitch at 3pm and UCD vs Pembroke gets underway at 6pm.

Meanwhile, Railway Union may yet rue failing to pick up a bonus point despite seeing off already-eliminated Cork C of I in comfortable fashion at Garryduff in Pool A on Saturday. Mick McKinnon’s side are chasing a treble of the Leinster league title, the Jacqui Potter Cup and the Irish Hockey League, and kept their ambitions for the last four alive thanks to first-half strikes from in-form striker Jean McDonnell and Patricia O’Dwyer. They had a flurry of chances to add to their tally in a game they largely dominated, forcing 13 corners in all and creating numerous opportunities from play, but couldn’t find the third goal to give them a bonus point as things get tight at the top of their pool. They must now better Pegasus’ result against C of I in round five, as they take on a Loreto side that will only miss out if they lose and Pegs go goal crazy against Phil Oakley’s side. C of I were without injured skipper Sandra Hackett and Sinéad Connery, while Jenifer Hales and former Railway girl Jennifer Kenefick were ineligible. That gave Railway’s Emma Smyth, one of the best midfielders in the country this term, plenty of space to exploit throughout. The game began at a breakneck pace with chances at both ends, with Railway keeper Helen Stevenson doing particularly well to thwart Amy Roberts after she surged into the circle. C of I keeper Orla McCarthy was equal to Railway’s first two short corners at the other end, but McDonnell made it third time lucky by smashing a perfect strike to the bottom corner on 13 minutes.

Smyth almost got a touch on Emer Dillon’s crash ball to double their advantage four minutes later, but the second goal did arrive on 29 minutes as Patricia O’Dwyer forced McDonnell’s cross home from close range. McCarthy nonetheless continued to frustrate McDonnell, making half a dozen good saves, as C of I found themselves further pressurised with the loss of Melanie Ryan and Julie O’Sullivan to green cards. Having been under the kosh for the majority of the first half, C of I improved significantly on the resumption, with the introduction of Claire Hickey and Grace Roberts adding verve to their attack, as well as creating the space for Deirdre Casey and Michaela Mihailou to express themselves in midfield. They almost pulled one back on 43 minutes when Suzy Herbert was just a few inches short from getting to Hickey’s cross, while Amy Roberts almost got a touch to a short corner after the ball was worked back to her in the injector position. Julie O’Sullivan’s running was also beginning to cause Railway problems, but the final ball was lacking all too often for C of I, and the last quarter belonged to the visitors as they went in search of that vital third goal. Despite pinning C of I back in their 25 for the final ten minutes and raining shots in on McCarthy’s goal, the bonus point never materialised, with Casey doing superbly to deflect McDonnell’s final effort – from a corner after the hooter had sounded – over the bar. Loreto made it 15 points out of a possible 16 as they continued to reserve their best form for the IHL, with Lizzie Colvin, Nikki Keegan, Cathy McKean, Ali Meeke and Zara Delany – her sixth of the competition so far – helping them to a 5-2 defeat of Randalstown. Pegasus also kept pace at the business end of the pool, with Kirsty McCollum’s double the highlight of a 5-1 defeat of Belfast Harlequins, who had taken a shock early lead through Claire Coey.