Munster pair start schools championships with wins

All-Ireland Schoolboy’s Championships – day one Ashton and Mildleton got their All-Ireland Schoolboy’s Championship campaigns off to strong starts as the tournament’s perennial challengers showed they are likely to contend once again. The former look like they might be on a collision course with Wesley at 1.30pm on Thursday after both sides picked up 3-0 wins in their opening group games.

Gary Wilkinson and Richard Lynch were a handful throughout for the host school on the Blackrock Road. They hit the front against Wallace in the first half through Stephen Wolfe. It was a nervy lead at times as Ashton bossed the majority of the play but were susceptible to counter attacks. They eased any tension in front of a home crowd when Richard Sweetnam scored a stroke midway through the second half and Wilkinson cracked home an open-side shot to share top of the table. Luke Madeley’s double, meanwhile, helped Wesley to a three-goal success against Sullivan Upper. In Group Four, Midleton – semi-finalists a year ago – edged home against RBAI as they transformed a 1-0 half-time lead into a three goal margin with Andrew Colton and Greg Chambers on the mark. But they were rattled late on but the east Cork side held on to win 3-2. If they want to emulate last year’s performance, though, they must get the better of reigning champions Banbridge Academy who look in rude health. St Columba’s put in a decent first half shift before running out of gas. Bann are without Josh Moffett but EHL representatives Owen Magee and Matthew Bell both netted in the first half but the Rathfarnham outfit had their moments, hitting the post and winning corners. But six goals in the closing quarter gave the tie a lop-sided look as Rory Woods and John McKee grabbed quick-fire doubles. In Group Two, David Cole’s hat-trick of penalty corners gave St Andrew’s all the impetus they needed to get their campaign off to a fine start against Regent House. He netted the first two before Jonathan Codd finished off from close range on the half-time hooter from a corner rebound for 3-0.

Cole made it four before a Cillian Hines deflection to Lee Cole’s reverse – perhaps fortuitous as there appeared to be a foot in the build-up – and Aaron Bailey’s goal completed a 6-0 win. With Friends edging out Bandon 2-1, it gives the Booterstown school the initiative in Group Two. Cookstown look on course to boss group one as Ian Sloan’s half-dozen powered them to a 9-1 win over Newpark while Sutton Park were edged out by Campbell College 1-0. All-Ireland Schoolboy’s Championships, day one results Group One: Cookstown 9 Newpark 1; Sutton Park 0 Campbell College 1 (J Lyner) Group Two: St Andrew’s 6 (D Cole 3, K Codd, A Bailey, C Hines) Regent House 0; Bandon 1 (B Scott) Friends 2 (A Allen, Marshall) Group Three: Ashton 3 (S Wolfe, R Sweetnam, G Wilkinson) Wallace 0; Wesley 3 (L Madeley 2, K von Eickholdt) Sullivan Upper 0 Group Four: Midleton 3 (A Colton 2, G Chambers) RBAI 2; Banbridge 8 (O Magee 2, R Woods 2, J McKee 2, M Bell, B Cosgrove) St Columba’s 0 ** For full Thursday fixture list, click here ** To keep up to date with all the results as they occur throughout the day, go to twitter.com/hookhockey or use the #irishhockey hashtag ** Photos from Day One of the championships can be viewed by clicking here