Cregan denied as Quins reclaim title

THERE was no fairytale ending for Catholic Institute’s Eimear Cregan as her former club Cork Harlequins gave a lesson in finishing to reclaim the women’s Munster Senior Cup at Rosbrien yesterday.

Instead, it was a lesser-lauded player who moved in the opposite direction last summer, Jane Bourke, who had the decisive say for Quins, grabbing their insurance goal late on to wrest back a trophy they’d last won in 2007.

Cork C of I and UCC had taken the spoils since then, but Eddie Gash’s side were determined to keep up a winning habit by coming out on top in what was a repeat of the 2006 decider.

Ger O’Carroll’s Institute lacked the composure in the circle that Quins’ experience gave them, but there is little doubt that Cregan brings much to a young forward line of Naomi Carroll, Rebecca Barry and Katie Campbell that will continue to flourish in the future.

There was much to admire in Institute’s play, particularly in watching Ireland U16 midfield starlet Roisín Upton give little in the way of inches or respect to Rachael Kohler, 20 years her senior and the most decorated player in the Irish game.

But it was another old stager, Karen Bateman, who showed her class to give Quins the lead on 12 minutes, making the perfect angled run to get the deftest of touches on Jane Chapple’s shot, after the latter had robbed Christine O’Shea.

Quins doubled that lead on 23 minutes, Rachel McSharry showing her renowned poacher’s instinct at corner time to bury a rebound after Cliodhna Sargent’s initial shot was saved.

Sargent – who had the unusual pleasure of receiving the trophy from her mother, Munster Branch president Pat – gave a masterful performance in defence alongside young left-back Antonia McGrath, whose calmness belied her years.

The running of Institute’s forward quartet – and Kym Daly’s surges from midfield – continued to pose problems for Quins, but all too often the final ball was lacking as the hosts strove to get back in the contest on the scoreboard.

Institute had hoped for a victory today to mark their centenary year in style on home turf, but those dreams died for good when Bourke touched McSharry’s switched slap over the netminder Ciara Ronan with two minutes to go.

The hosts did net a quick-fire consolation – Daly executing a neat one-two with Barry to slot under Amy O’Neill after Quins had failed to deal with an aerial – and that will at least give them hope as they head into another decider this weekend, the Irish Challenge final against Greenfields.

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE: C Ronan (GK); C O’Shea, S Mannion, E Bromell, C Hutchinson, K Cantrell, E Higgins, A Kenny, A English (capt), K Daly, R Pratt, K Campbell, R Upton, E Cregan, N Carroll, R Barry.

CORK HARLEQUINS: A O’Neill (GK); C Sargent (capt), Y O’Byrne, H Chapple, K Bateman, R Kohler, R McSharry, J Bourke, A Taylor, E O’Leary, A McGrath, L Mullins, S McCarthy, L-A Daunt, J Chapple, C O’Connor.

Umpires: J Beamish and Z Howe