Champions ’Quins scrape past students

UCC’s new-look outfit showed further signs that they will be pushing the top three men’s sides in Munster but, ultimately, their indiscretions cost them at key moments at Farmer’s Cross as reigning champions Cork Harlequins won by the odd goal in five.

Corner moves from Mark Black and Dan Hobbs were just reward for the host’s first-half dominance. The students roared back into contention when Graham Catchpole finished from the top of the circle following a five-man move — the first Quins have conceded in the league. Makeshift forward Brian Hayes-Curtin provided an instant response, a hotly-contested effort which saw UCC skipper Andy Gray sin-binned.

He was one of three from his side to be sent to the line and it stagnated a strong showing which culminated in Cian Kavanagh’s equally debatable effort which seemingly struck a foot.