Lurgan secure All-Ireland glory on day of drama
The Ulster school had won the last time the competition was hosted by Crescent in 2003, and they did so here on goal difference as fatigue and motivation proved a decisive factor in some hammerings exacted late in the day.
With all five sides winning and losing on day one, it was open season yesterday with Lurgan taking the early initiative with a 3-0 dismissal of Coláiste Iognáid. Crescent and Loreto Kilkenny’s hopes then all but faded as the hosts failed to convert a flurry of corners aside from Roisin Upton’s late equaliser.
Emily Beatty and Nicola Gray both notched braces in a 5-0 dismissal of a tired Coláiste Iognáid that seemed to tilt the balance in Alexandra College’s favour. But Lurgan then put seven past Loreto Kilkenny, Chloe McCann on target four times with Hannah Grieve netting a hat-trick, to leave Alex needing to beat Crescent by six goals in the final game.
The Dublin school gave it one hell of a rattle, winning 6-1 with Beatty, Gray and Hannah McDermott all to the fore, but Crescent cleared three late corners to prevent Alex getting the last goal they required.
Lurgan’s victory was somewhat emotional for their influential trio of Barr sisters, captain Natalie and twins Bethany and Serena. Their elder sister Charlene’s dying wish before she passed away from cystic fibrosis was to see her sisters claim victory in Ulster, and the Barr girls have now gone one better by adding the national title too.
Meanwhile, it’s Munster Senior Cup final day at Garryduff this afternoon, with Catholic Institute’s women and the men of Cork Church of Ireland both seeking to annex the first half of potential league and cup doubles.
Institute meet Cork Harlequins (1pm) in a repeat of last year’s final, but much has changed since that 3-1 victory for Quins. They have lost experienced campaigners such as Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman to retirement, while Institute are now regarded as the strongest force in Munster, particularly since they have welcomed back long-term injury victims Katie Campbell and Kym Daly. Cliodhna Sargent will be leading Quins’ underdog charge, but Institute will be quietly confident they can do the necessary.
Elsewhere C of I will be hoping to overcome a recent wretched run of form when they take on Bandon in the men’s decider (3pm).
Mark Ruddle’s charges have leaked 10 goals in their last two games against Corinthian and Annadale, and will be looking for a boost ahead of a trio of clashes with bitter rivals Cork Harlequins that will shape their domestic season.
Bandon will, as always, relish the outsiders tag and may view C of I as being more vulnerable than usual.
Meanwhile, Ashton head to Portadown for the women’s Irish Trophy semi-final, hoping to join UCC men in a Belfield showpiece in a week’s time. George Treacy’s girls had a confidence-boosting 2-2 draw with UCC in midweek, skipper Caroline McCarthy netting her 19th and 20th goals of the season.
College, for their part, meet Bandon in west Cork knowing three points are vital to each side’s Irish Hockey League qualification ambitions, while UL host Cork C of I. Quins B take on UCC in the men’s league.
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