Cliodhna Sargent’s penalty corner strike powered Cork Harlequins into the Irish Senior Cup semi-finals as they snatched a late 2-1 win over Muckross.

Irish coach Alexander Cox says his side may need to employ a defensive strategy if they are to get something from their opening World Cup tie against champions Australia.

Irish coach Alexander Cox is set to make his first significant squad announcement next Tuesday as the men’s hockey World Cup in India comes into view.

Cork won the battle of the Harlequins in the women’s EY Hockey League as Darren Collins’ Farmers Cross outfit beat their Belfast counterparts 3-0 in Deramore Park to give a massive confidence boost to the new-look side.

Minority sports crave that moment that propels them into the national sporting consciousness. Think Katie Taylor at London 2012 and the O’Donovans in Rio 2016. Hockey Ireland’s Phil Oakley swears that after Irish ’s exploits at the Cricket World Cup in 2007, he saw lads using hurleys to play cricket in Mayfield on Cork’s northside.

Megan Frazer has been included in Graham Shaw’s squad of 18 players for next month’s World Cup in London despite concerns over her fitness.

Cliodhna Sargent’s last-minute penalty corner smash has kept Cork Harlequins’ outside chances of EY Hockey League glory alive.

UCD showed the sharper touches in the key exchanges to forge four points clear of Cork Harlequins with a 2-0 win over their nearest women’s EY Hockey League rivals at Farmer’s Cross.

Cork Harlequins hope to have a winning finish to the first phase of a productive women’s EY Hockey League campaign this weekend.

Ireland’s women have been dealt a reasonably favourable pool in the women’s World Cup next July with their date with India looking to be the crucial one if they are to make the knock-out phases.

Cliodhna Sargent is set to return to action for the first time since January following the birth of her first son, Dylan, in August with a World Cup spot very much the long-term aim.

Naomi Carroll’s hat-trick saw Cork Harlequins sweep aside Trinity 5-1 in the women’s EY Hockey League, boosting the Farmer’s Cross club into a share of top spot.

With the détente between the Irish Hockey Umpires Association and Hockey Ireland in place, the EY Hockey League will tip off this weekend after two weeks of cancellations.

Roisin Upton is hoping to make up for lost time with the Irish women’s team as they look to land a 2018 World Cup spot over the course of the next two weeks.

Emma Buckley looks set to continue a trend of young Ireland senior debutants as the Mount Mercy College student is poised to win her first cap next week.

The first university-based sports law clinic of its kind in Ireland, which will provide free legal advice to people involved in sport, will be launched in Cork tonight.

Karen Bateman’s brace ended Catholic Institute’s hopes of another Munster Senior Cup final upset as she guided Cork Harlequins to a 2-1 success at Garryduff yesterday.

Ards matched UCC every step of the way over a turbulent EY Hockey League double weekend to leave the Cork students battling to avoid relegation.

Greenfields made UCC sweat but the students hung on to win 2-1 and give their EY Hockey League survival hopes a significant boost at the Mardyke on Saturday.

Cork Harlequins are quietly moving back into contention in the women’s EY Hockey League after a 7-0 dismantling of Greenfields moved them up to third place.

Cork Church of Ireland will get a first indication of whether they are genuine EY Hockey League title contenders when they host Lisnagarvey at Garryduff tomorrow (1.30pm).

Two Limerick friends will be cast in the unfamiliar role of opponents as Cork Harlequins host Ulster Elks in the new-look EY Hockey League.

UCC’s ladies and Cork C of I’s men made emphatic opening day statements in the new-look EY Hockey League, with big wins over Greenfields and Cookstown. Alex O’Grady and Niamh O’Leary were among the new faces on target for College in a 4-0 success in Galway that puts them top of the pile after the first round.

“When you lose out on an Olympics, you tend to cry quite often.”

Cliodhna Sargent says Ireland will again put their bodies on the line today as they bid to realise their Olympics dreams.

Ireland 2 USA 0: Ireland will take aim at a place in the 2016 Olympics with confidence tomorrow after stunning world number five USA 2-0 in Valencia yesterday.

Ireland’s Olympic qualification campaign is already ahead of schedule following a stunning 4-1 success over South Africa on day one of World League 3 in Valencia yesterday.

 

The fixture rows dogging Irish hockey have made their way to Munster after Ireland vice-captain Cliodhna Sargent waded into the debate. 

Ireland’s men made a huge statement as they began their Olympic qualification campaign with an 8-0 rout of Chile at the World League 2 in San Diego.

Cork Harlequins are sniffing a return to the glory days as they welcome Hermes to Harlequin Park for tomorrow’s Irish Senior Cup semi-final showdown.

Hockey: Three Rock Rovers are the first side to book their place in the men’s Irish Hockey League semis after a Jonny Bruton-inspired win at Lisnagarvey. 

Hockey: Cork Harlequins and UCC both require victories over Leinster opposition tomorrow to keep alive their slim hopes of making the last four of the Irish Hockey League.

Hockey: Cork Harlequins will aim to stay in the hunt for a wide open women’s Irish Senior Cup when they welcome Pegasus to Farmer’s Cross tomorrow (1.30pm).

Hockey

Hannah Humphreys enhanced her burgeoning reputation with a vital penalty stroke save to send her Ashton side through to the second round of the Irish Junior Cup on Saturday.

Irish hockey will expand to include a full national league next season after a drawn-out debate was finally settled yesterday.

Catholic Institute sent Cork C of I crashing to a 3-0 defeat on the opening day in Division 1 of the new-look Munster leagues.

Catholic Institute made the biggest statement of intent as they brought Cork C of I crashing to a 3-0 defeat on the opening day in Division 1 of the new-look Munster leagues.

Munster’s brave new dawn begins this weekend as restructured men’s and women’s Division One leagues get underway.

Ireland pushed world number five England hard, but ultimately fell in a shoot-out after drawing yesterday’s men’s Investec Cup final 2-2 in London.

Ireland’s women claimed Champions Challenge I silver for the first time, but gold eluded them as USA claimed a 3-1 final victory in Glasgow.