Quins the queens of second tier

Another of the women’s provincial league titles has found its destination, after Cork Harlequins claimed the Division Two crown last weekend. While Fermoy beat them by a week to claim the title of maiden league winners this term, Quins and their coach David Egner will be plenty satisfied with their work this campaign. Their 3-1 away defeat of Ashton – coming thanks to strikes from Denise O’Connor, Orlagh Cotter and Fiona Higgins – combined with Belvedere’s 1-0 win over Catholic Institute at Rosbrien means Quins cannot be caught.

A number of success stories have emerged for the Farmer’s Cross outfit, namely the successful conversion of Kay Gaffney from a forward to a centre back, although the Kilkenny native remains the side’s top scorer with five goals. Kate Herbert and Fiona Higgins have anchored the midfield, while Orlagh Cotter – an off-season signing from C of I – has been something of a revelation up front. Quins have accrued 25 points from a possible 30 and have two games left, with Belvedere in second, five points behind but with just a single game remaining. Institute and C of I, in fourth and third respectively, could usurp Belvedere from second place, but cannot catch Quins. Nonetheless, Belvedere’s presence in the final shake-up has implications for the bottom three in Division One, should they elect to contest promotion. They were relegated last year, but have put up a strong showing, handing Quins their sole defeat ot the season thanks to a superb showing from goalkeeper Debbi Cashman. As the only Division Two side without a representative in Division One, a top-three placing gives them the right to request a challenge game against the team who finishes bottom of Division One. UL, Ashton or Waterford will finish bottom of the top tier, with the Limerick students favourites to occupy that berth despite recording their maiden win of the campaign against the latter on Saturday. At the other end of the Division Two table, it looks like a straight fight between Ashton and UCC to avoid relegation – though such an eventuality may not come to pass for either team. The folding of Moyne/Thurles at the start of the campaign has left an uneven balance of seven teams in the division, and with Fermoy on their way up from Division Three, it is possible no team will go down. Such a scenario would be welcomed by both clubs, who would not want to countenance the notion of a two-tier gap between their top two teams. With both sides locked on six points, College currently have the advantage, as they have three games in hand over Ashton. But despite a run to the last eight of the Irish Junior Cup, the students have struggled to score in the league – zero wins from seven games and only three goals scored tells its own story.