Munster to clinch Interprovincial crown

ULSTER were crowned Men’s Senior Hockey Interprovincial winners yesterday following a 3-3 draw with host province Munster, with the issue being decided in the last game of the weekend at Harlequin Park.

Any realistic chance of Munster successfully defending their title ended on Saturday when Ulster scored a 3-2 victory over Leinster.

The men’s event was run over two weekends and Munster had lost to both Ulster and Leinster in the first stage.

Therefore an early victory was needed this weekend and they achieved just that with a win over Ulster on Friday night reviving their chances.

Team captain Nigel Buttimer got the goal but the performance counted for little as Leinster lost to Ulster when a draw in this tie was a necessity for the home team.

Philip Sterling shot Ulster into a 23 minute lead only for Leinster to equalise seven minutes later when John Goulding ended off a penalty corner move.

Sterling had his second in the 50th minute and the match was decided soon afterwards when Mark Irwin hit Ulster’s third. Leinster launched a few good attacks but their only reward was an Ian Allen goal two minutes from time.

Leinster’s hopes of a championship win then depended on their final match with Munster. A 2-0 or 2-1 victory margin was required but they rarely looked capable of achieving this and trailed the home team all they way before eventually sharing the honours 3-3.

The game was a personal triumph for Cork Church of Ireland’s John Jermyn who hit a marvellous hat-trick - each from delightfully played penalty corner moves.

Jermyn shot Munster into an 18th minute lead; Graham Shaw equalised in the 27th; Jermyn restored the lead after 33 minutes; Gordon Elliott brought the sides level seven minutes later; Jermyn had Munster back in front again in the 62nd minute only for Elliott to restore parity in the final minute.

Bandon scored their second win over Catholic Institute in the space of seven days when they emerged 1-0 winners in this Charity Cup match at Moylish on Saturday.

Bandon snatched the all important goal in the 61st. minute. when Ashley Smith latched unto a loose ball at the top of the Catholic Institute circle to beat Billy Robertson in the Institute goal with a rising shot.

Cork Church of Ireland "C" just got the better of Cork Harlequins"C" by 3 - 2 in this first round, first leg Cork Cup match at Garryduff yesterday thanks to goals from Glyn Daunt, Alex Moffett and Stephen Sweetnam. Stuart Egner and Nigel Bryan got two important away goals for Harlequins.