Misfortune for Munster’s big two as league leads allowed slip

THEY may have restored some Munster pride on the national stage, but Cork Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins will nonetheless be wondering how they left two-goal leads slip in their 2-2 Irish Hockey League draws with Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne respectively.

With four sides from the southern province losing heavily in the Irish Senior Cup last weekend a further Saturday of misery was feared. But Munster’s big two were both unlucky not to take maximum points.

A John Jermyn drag-flick and a fine lobbed finish from 16-year-old Gary Wilkinson had C of I two to the good at Serpentine Avenue, only for Gordon Elliott to pull one back before Alan Sothern, who had twice hit the woodwork, reversed home an equaliser.

It was a similar story at Harlequins Park as Hobbs brothers Dan and John both rattled home drag-flicks for a shock 2-0 lead over Glenanne, but the Tallaght side responded with quick-fire replies from Shaw and Kane.

Elsewhere in Quins’ Pool A, Monkstown made light work of Instonians, winning 4-0 to claim a bonus point and top spot, while Ian Sloan’s hat-trick saw the battle of Ireland’s EuroHockey League representatives go Cookstown’s way, as they saw off Banbridge 4-2.

The clubs will travel together to Antwerp in Belgium next weekend for their first taste of EHL action, before resuming hostilities in the Irish Senior Cup second round.

In Pool B, an understrength Lisnagarvey edged out YMCA 1-0 while Annadale beat Three Rock Rovers 2-1 in a dour affair at Lough Moss.

The closeness of the men’s ties wasn’t repeated in the women’s games, with all but one of the six games ending in comfortable bonus-point wins.

That tight encounter came at Rosbrien, where a go-ahead goal from Eimear Cregan wasn’t enough to prevent Catholic Institute going down 2-1 to Pegasus.

UCD and Hermes routed Armagh and Old Alex respectively on 3-0 scorelines, with former UCC girl Miriam Crowley netting a maiden goal for Hermes.

That was also the margin of victory in Pool B for Loreto and Railway Union — who vanquished Cork Harlequins and Lurgan respectively — while Ballymoney saw off UCC 4-1.

Domestically, UCC men failed to lift their Bandon curse, drawing 1-1 at the Mardyke as Aaron Beamish cancelled out Peter Catchpole’s opener. In the women’s Examiner Cup, NUIG were the surprise big winners, routing Ashton 7-2.