After a month as champions-elect, Catholic Institute finally picked off the point they needed to claim the Munster ladies division one title, taking over the mantle from Cork Harlequins after 15-years at the helm.
It came in typically emphatic fashion as Naomi Carroll’s hat-trick underpinned a comprehensive 6-0 win over Belvedere in Ballincollig.
Indeed, they showed few nerves in their pursuit of a first Munster title since the 1992/93 season – and indeed a first league and cup double since the 1980s – as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes and were 5-0 up at half-time with Elaine Bromell, Jane Bourke and Katie Campbell all weighing in.
It was cause for celebration for the Limerick-side but coach Ger O’Carroll says the champagne will be on ice for another seven days as she targets a perfect season.
“We won’t celebrate until next Saturday when the league finishes. We have Belvedere again on Thursday night and Harlequins on Saturday and we will 100 percent professional in our approach as we want to go unbeaten all season.”
Such an attitude will be music to UCC ears as that final day tussle with Harlequins could have a large impact on who takes the second Irish Hockey League place and who goes into the wildcard playoffs.
On Saturday, Quins took a huge step toward returning to the IHL for a fourth successive year as they beat the students 3-1 at the Mardyke, producing some of their best hockey this term.
Rachel McSharry’s opener was cancelled out but an excellent Yvonne O’Byrne reverse-stick strike and Cliodhna Sargent’s corner slap propelled them to third position with two games in hand on College.
Bandon’s excellent season continued as Hilary Chapple and Amy Hosford plundered short corner goals in the second half to defeat C of I 2-0.
On the men’s side, Harlequins scored the odd goal in nine to secure a huge win over title rivals Cork C of I.
It was an incredible turnaround as CI raced into a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes only for Dave Eakins’ corner rebound and Brian Hayes-Curtain’s back post finish to give them a lifeline by the interval.
John Jermyn re-estabished the visitors’ superiority with a drag-flick but Quins roared back into the tie as Eakins reversed home his second and Lee D’Alton tied the game at 4-4 from another rebound.
And the winner came from a lightning breakaway with just two minutes to go. Phil O’Driscoll squared past the last defender to Paul Lombard to slot home.
It gives Harlequins the major initiative going into the return fixture in a fortnight’s time where a draw would bring them to the precipice of league glory.
Meanwhile, UCC’s wait for a national title continues as they were undone by South Antrim 2-1 in the Irish Hockey Trophy final at Belfield on Sunday.
Roger Gray’s drag-flick had them level but Ian Harbinson flicked high off a rebound to score what proved the winner before half-time.
UCC – for whom sweeper Andrew Gray gave a stunning defensive performance – had their chances to draw level in the second half, Roger Gray’s trickery creating shooting opportunities but Peter Catchpole and Fionn O’Leary were both nudged out when well-placed.
Limerick claimed the ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge on Saturday when they had far too much in the tank for Dungarvan, Fenagh Smith firing a hat-trick in a 7-0 win.
Words by Stephen Findlater as Southern Fried is currently on a break! 🙂
Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final
South Antrim 2 (R O’Neill, I Harbinson) UCC 1 (R Gray)
Irish Hockey Challenge Final
Kilkenny 2 (T Lynas, E Walsh) Portrane 6 (N Munir 2, E Lawlor-McHugh 2, M Ahmad, R Billings)
Men’s Div 1
Cork Harlequins 5 (D Eakins 2, B Hayes-Curtin, L d’Alton, P Lombard) Cork C of I 4;
Bandon 2 Cork Harlequins B 0
Women’s
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup, quarter-finals
Ulster Elks 1 (N Wise) Hermes 2 (L Jacob, J Burke);
Pegasus 4 (C McMahon, N Graham, V Surgeoner, M Harvey) Lurgan 1 (C McClure)
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy
Portadown 0 Lisnagarvey 2 (K McQuillan, K Morris)
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Challenge Final
Dungarvan 0 Limerick 7 (F Smith 3, L McGowan, C Hayes, K O’Flynn, J Lyttle)
Munster Div 1
Cork C of I 0 Bandon 2 (H Chapple, A Hosford)
Belvedere 0 Catholic Institute 6 (N Carroll 3, J Bourke, E Brommell, K Campbell);
UCC 1 Cork Harlequins 3 (R McSharry, C Sargent, Y O’Byrne)
