Institute shake off gutsy Portrane
Institute somehow survived three second-half yellow cards in prevailing 3-2 against Leinster’s Portrane at Rosbrien.
Cathal Duggan and Eric Callender both had efforts from play pegged back by Ralph Billings short corner goals, before Simon Brickenden’s drag-flick eventually won the day. College, last year’s beaten finalists, similarly did things the hard way at the Mardyke, winning 4-3 against Antrim in a tie which saw the lead swapped three times, Roger Gray’s upright reverse-stick strike sealing victory with 30 seconds to go.
Bandon won the battle of Munster in the women’s competition, captain Emma Peters leading the scoring in a 3-1 win over Cork C of I, but there was less luck for her sisters Stephanie and Laura as their UL side crashed out on penalty strokes to YMCA. Sue Ryan’s goal wasn’t enough to prevent Waterford losing 2-1 at home to Naas.
In the refixed Irish Hockey League ties, Hermes again saved their best form for this competition, Cork woman Audrey O’Flynn’s well-placed switched drag-flick the difference in a 2-1 win over UCD to halt the students’ recent progress and see Mary Logue’s side take control of Pool A.
O’Flynn’s former UCC team-mates endured a harrowing afternoon against Railway Union, with another ex-College girl, Julia O’Halloran, among the scorers in a 9-0 rout at Park Avenue.
Domestically, Eimear Cregan’s four goals helped leaders Catholic Institute thrash Ashton 9-1, while Cork Harlequins eked out a 2-0 win at Bandon to stay a point clear of the west Cork side atop the Munster league.
