Harlequins in shock as Burns steals cup win for C of I

CORK HARLEQUINS were left cursing themselves for going to sleep at the start of extra-time, allowing Cork Church of Ireland to plunder a golden-goal victory in Saturday’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final at Farmer’s Cross.

Nick Burns was left unmarked at the back post to tap home Stephen Sweetnam’s swept cross just 78 seconds into the extra period, after the sides had been left deadlocked at 1-1 following normal time of a disappointing encounter.

Jason Black tucked away a short corner rebound to put Quins deservedly in front on 48 minutes, after the hosts had soaked up C of I pressure in the opening period.

Philip Sweetnam equalised at the second attempt seven minutes later after David Hobbs had done the groundwork, before C of I’s Phil Smith did brilliantly to take Lee d’Alton’s goalbound effort off the line in the dying minutes.

They will now face Bandon in the final at Garryduff on March 26; the west Cork side were in league action yesterday, skipper Ali Smith ending a recent goalscoring drought in style with a brace that helped them to a 3-1 win at Quins B.

Fionn O’Leary’s quadruple — which included a first-half hat-trick — was the catalyst for UCC’s 7-2 victory away to struggling Catholic Institute.

Roger Gray added a brace while there was also a first of the season for Graham Catchpole, with Ed Gleeson and Dara Crowe hitting back for the Limerick hosts.

Further afield, Annadale caused the shock of the Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals by seeing off favourites Lisnagarvey on penalty strokes following a 2-2 draw, adding the County Down outfit to a list of scalps which also includes Glenanne.

Their reward is a tie against Cookstown, who vanquished Fingal 3-0 with the Sloan brothers, Ian and Stephen, — sons of former Irish international great Marty — collecting all the Tyrone outfit’s goals.

Monkstown, the 2008 finalists, will carry Leinster’s hopes after Gareth Watkins’ golden goal helped them see off Instonians 4-3 in a thriller at Rathdown, and they’ll now play Banbridge, 2-0 victors over surprise package NICS, in the last four.

Of the semi-final quartet – who will face off at UCD on April 16 – none has won the trophy in modern times. Cookstown last claimed it in 1987 and Banbridge the year before, but Monkstown’s sole victory came in 1914 while Annadale have been beaten finalists twice, most recently in 2007.

Meanwhile, Catholic Institute kept their double hopes alive by keeping UCC at bay in a tetchy 3-2 women’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final win at the Mardyke.

Eimear Cregan’s opener was cancelled out by UCC’s Olivia Roycroft’s drag-flick, but another Cregan effort and a Roisin Upton drag put Institute in command with 10 minutes to go, before Roycroft repeated her earlier trick in the dying seconds.

Institute will lock horns with Cork Harlequins in the final, as they outclassed Cork C of I 5-0 at Garryduff, with Rachel McSharry, Acacia Taylor, Claire Bergin, Tracey Johnston and Orlagh Cotter on target.

The Munster Senior Plate final will be contested by Bandon and Ashton, who justified their favourites’ tags in their clashes with Belvedere and UL respectively.

Sarah Gray’s comeback from a serious knee injury continues apace, as she netted a hat-trick in Bandon’s 5-0 victory, while Ashton skipper Caroline McCarthy grabbed two in her side’s 3-0 success.