Stunning Quins’ win caps progressive IHL weekend

Cork C of I and Harlequins both picked up significant victories in their respective bids to become the first Munster side to reach the men’s Irish Hockey League playoffs last Saturday on home soil. For CI, they move into a three-way share of second place going into the three-month break before the penultimate round of matches following their 2-1 win over YMCA.

The visitors started well at Garryduff but were stung in the 8th minute when CI’s right back David Harvey and Alec Moffett created the opening for Gary Wilkinson to, under pressure, crack a shot on his reverse past Iain Walker. A couple of penalty corners went unconverted for YM in the second quarter but Billy Lynch was helpless to deny the impressive David Robinson at the third time of asking as he beat two runners to roll home. YM continued to threaten but a resolute defensive effort from David Harvey, Phil Smith, Clinton Sweetnam and the veteran Nigel Buttimer held them at bay. And they threw the decisive blow in the 45th minute. Alec Moffett made a darting run down the YM right and as he came along the end line was pushed. The umpire had no hesitation in awarding a penalty stroke which Smith fired low toWalker’s left. YM pushed for a leveller and were awarded penalty corners in the 57th and 64th minutes but these were well defended as CI clung on for the three points. Lisnagarvey look out of sight following a third successive win, taking an edgy 2-0 win over Three Rock Rovers to go three points clear at the top of Pool B. Pembroke were stunned by two Peter Caruth goals in the last two minutes as Annadale recorded a spectacular 4-2 victory to leave the two-time champions floundering in fifth place. In Pool A,  Paul Lombard capped a brilliant Cork Harlequins’ comeback as they came from 2-0 down to best Instonians and get back in contention for a first ever IHL semi-final place. For Inst, in combination with a two-point penalty, it leaves them virtually out of the competition despite their heroics against Glenanne last week. That day, they came from two down to win late on but they were sucker-punched at Farmer’s Cross in similar manner. John Watson got his third goal in a week in the 25th minute when he was later unmarked to finish from around the penalty spot before William Robinson rebounded off Chris Daunt in the third quarter for a two-goal lead. The lifeline came when Mark Black deflected home a corner 18 minutes from time and they used that momentum in the final quarter a great run by Phil O’Driscoll set up Lombard to slot home and tie things up. And with ten minutes to go,Lombardmade a wonderful run along the end-line and placed home for a big win. It gives Quins a boost but they still have ground to make up on leading trio Cookstown, Banbridge and Monkstown. Cookstown became the first side to gain a bonus point win atGlenanneParkwith a 5-2 win while Bann inflicted a first defeat on Monkstown despite Kyle Good’s first goal since returning from long-term injury. On the women’s side, Catholic Institute are among a quartet of sides battling for Pool A semi-final places when the competition resumes in February. Katie Campbell’s solo strike put them in major contention as they dismissed Old Alex at Rosbrien. She netted a well-worked goal in the 29th minute, a move which began from a picture perfect pass out of defense from Christine O’Shea via Eimear Cregan toCampbellto finish off. Along with Insta, Hermes, UCD and Pegasus are all within one point of top spot. Old Alex had plenty of scoring opportunities, in particular coming from Roisin Flinn while Shirley Mc Cay held the ball up excellently in midfield while Aisling Naughton went close early on. But Catholic Institute improved steadily as the game went on as Elaine Bromell and O’Shea were both outstanding.

Although Jane Bourke was carded two minutes into the second quarter, they did breakthrough soon after. Cork Harlequins tied 1-1 with Lurgan but look to be out of the Pool B running. TheUlsterside claimed their first ever IHL points as they garnered a draw from the first ever visit of Quins. Former international Karen Bateman handed her side the lead in the 14th minute but it was cancelled out in the 51st minute by Carly Johnston when a quickly taken Sarah McClure free was quickly slipped her way and her shot crept in at the far post. Both sides had chances to win the game but none were taken, leaving both sides all but out of the competition. Loreto maintained their perfect start to the IHL campaign with a third successive bonus point win, this time over UCC which has them four points clear of the Pool B pack ahead of showdowns with Railway Union and Ballymoney. Sarah Clarke’s well struck corner got them up and running before Sarah Barnwell capitalised on a defensive error to simply convert. Nikki Keegan put her side in bonus point territory from the penalty spot before Katie Evans completed the win. Emily O’Leary went closest for the students, drawing a strong save from Louisa Healy, but they were in lack lustre form in the wake of a taxing intervarsities campaign. Railway look the side who can best them, though, after they produced some of their best form to date to beat Ballymoney at Park Avenue. Men’s Irish Hockey League Pool A: Banbridge 2 (S Caruth, R McCandless) Monkstown 1 (K Good); Cork Harlequins 3 (P Lombard 2, M Black) Instonians 2 (J Watson, W Robinson); Glenanne 2 (G Shaw, G Shaw) Cookstown 5 (G Allen 2, P Thompson, I Sloan, T Smyth) Standings: 1. Cookstown 9pts (+5) 2. Banbridge 7pts (+3) 3. Monkstown 7pts (+3) 4. Cork Harlequins 5pts (-3) 5. Glenanne 3pts (-4) 6. Instonians 2pts (-4) Pool B: Cork C of I 2 (G Wilkinson, P Smith) YMCA 1 (D Robinson); Pembroke 2 (M Elliott, A Sothern) Annadale 4 (P Caruth 2, A Williamson, N Hamilton); Three Rock Rovers 0 Lisnagarvey 2 (A Forrest, J Gray) Standings: 1. Lisnagarvey 9pts (+4) 2. YMCA 6pts (+1) 3. Annadale 6pts (0) 4. Cork C of I 6pts (0) 5. Pembroke 5pts (0) 6. Three Rock Rovers 1pt (-5) Women’s Irish Hockey League  Pool A: Hermes 3 (G Pinder, L Jacob, S Connery) Armagh 0; Catholic Institute 1 (K Campbell) Old Alex 0; Pegasus 3 (V Surgeoner 2, A Boyles) UCD 4 (own goal, J Deacon, L Ewart, A O’Flanagan) Standings (played): 1. Hermes (2) 8pts (+6) 2. UCD (2) 7pts (+4) 3. Pegasus (3) 7pts (+2) 4. Catholic Institute (3) 7pts (+1) 5. Old Alex (3) 1pt (-6) 6.Armagh (3) 1pt (-7)   Pool B: Lurgan 1 (C Johnson) Cork Harlequins 1 (K Bateman); UCC 0 Loreto 4 (Sarah Clarke, N Keegan, S Barnwell, K Evans); Railway Union 3 (K McKenna 2, J O’Halloran) Ballymoney 2 (N Parke 2) Standings (played): 1. Loreto (3) 12pts (+13) 2. Ballymoney (3) 8pts (+3) 3. RailwayUnion (2) 7pts (+4) 4. Cork Harlequins (3) 3pts (-4) 5. Lurgan (3) 2pts (-9) 6. UCC (2) 0pts (-7) Munster Men’s Division One: CorkC of I B 0 Bandon 1