Quins and UCC off to flier with bonus point wins

CORK HARLEQUINS andUCC got their ESB Irish Hockey League campaigns off to the perfect start as both picked up bonus-point wins on Saturday to lead the way after round one.

Quins were never in trouble in their 4-1 Pool A defeat of a weakened and inexperienced Cork C of I side.

Karen Bateman, Leslie Ann Daunt and Jane Bourke had them cruising at 3-0, before Cathy Kenefick got a brilliant touch to Claire Hickey’s rocket to divert the ball home.

That prompted a late surge by Quins to re-establish a bonus point lead of three clear goals, drawing a series of fine stops from C of I keeper Orla McCarthy. But Bateman broke the visitors’ resistance four minutes from time, expertly deflecting home following a slick short corner switch move.

Railway Union earned themselves a share of top spot in Pool A with a 4-1 defeat of newcomers Ards, the pattern following the Quins game as Emer Lucey secured the bonus point late on.

The day got even better for both Quins and Railway with the news that Pembroke Wanderers had come from two down to snatch a 2-2 draw at Ballymoney.

The hosts had bossed the opening stages and built up a 2-0 lead by three-quarter time from Diane McNeill’s deflection and Laura Mullan’s tap-in following a fine advantage played by the umpire.

But Aoife Sherriff and Shona Doyle cracked home corner goals late on to claim a share of the spoils.

In Pool B, UCC suffered something of an off-day but are still sitting pretty at the top of their pool thanks to the bonus point accrued in a 4-0 defeat of Randalstown at The Mardyke.

Despite the Ulster side playing the slicker hockey for long periods, the students’ set-piece highlighted how much of a rare advantage a drag-flicker is in the women’s game. College skipper Audrey O’Flynn found the net with three of her four attempts – the other taken off the line by Megan Todd – to put her side 3-0 up.

Fiona O’Connell rocketed home a late fourth, after College keeper Karen Olden had saved a Vanessa Surgeoner penalty stroke which could have robbed the hosts of their bonus.

College’s hopes of advancing were handed a further boost when Old Alexandra held defending champions Loreto to a 1-1 draw yesterday.

Nicola Gray gave Alex a shock lead in the final quarter, only for Cathy McKean to finish off a corner routine to steal a draw. Pegasus had earlier won the battle of the heavyweights, spoiling Aine Connery’s Hermes debut with a 1-0 win at Belfield.

Claire McMahon rifled home Pegs’ first shot on goal in the 19th minute for the decisive strike, though Hermes claimed a bonus point by keeping the deficit to a single goal.

Domestically, Bandon and Catholic Institute were the main winners in the Examiner Cup, winning 3-1 and 2-0 at Ashton and Galway respectively, while UL held Greenfields to a 1-1 draw.

Cork C of I eventually broke free from a stubborn UCC resistance in the second half of the men’s Peard Cup quarter-final clash to run out 6-2 winners, with an ever-improving Catholic Institute also progressing to the last four via a 3-1 win over Quins B.

Pembroke Wanderers hit double figures for the second league game in a row – wiping out Railway Union 10-0 – to underline their Leinster title credentials, while Three Rock saw off Monkstown by the odd goal in nine in a thriller at Grange Road.

Trinity find themselves in the unusual position of occupying top spot in the women’s league, following a 2-0 success at Corinthian. That was their second win on the trot and should stand them in good stead ahead of next weekend’s intervarsities in Belfast.