Three Rock put paid to C of I hopes

Three Rock Rovers came to Cork with six Irish Hockey League debutants, a clutch of teenagers and little in the way of form — but still left Garryduff with a 2-0 victory that all but ends Church of Ireland’s qualification hopes.

Jody Hosking’s angled drive gave them a lead and although Rovers spent most of the game camped in their own 25, Stephen West was in inspired form between the sticks and Alan White hit a breakaway goal to give them a shock victory.

Lisnagarvey booked their place in the last four by shrugging off a resolute Annadale 4-2, continuing a 100% record that sees them top Pool B. With YMCA notching a bonus point in their stunning 4-0 dismissal of Dublin rivals Pembroke Wanderers, they need just a point from their final clash at home to Rovers next weekend to join ‘Garvey in the last four.

YM’s potential presence in the semis could see the wildcard playoffs — due to be run off alongside the finals weekend on May 5 and 6 at Lisnagarvey — moved back a fortnight, as the Milltown side are Leinster’s representatives in that competition too. That could create major headaches for UCC, favourites to qualify as Munster’s representative for the wildcards — which decide the final two qualifiers for next season’s IHL — due to clashes with exams.

Ulster champions Cookstown showed little signs of heavy legs from the long journey south as they dismantled Cork Harlequins 5-0 at Farmer’s Cross to storm into the semis, Ian Sloan and Timmy Smyth hitting a brace each. They sit atop Pool A but aren’t guaranteed to finish first as both Banbridge and Monkstown can overhaul them.

Bann saved their IHL season in miraculous style, overturning a 5-2 third quarter deficit at home to basement side Instonians to somehow eke out a 6-5 victory, Stephen Dowds dragging home his hat-trick goal with five minutes to go to seal an unlikely success.

They’re locked on 10 points with Monkstown, who mugged Glenanne 4-3 in bizarre style in Tallaght. Leading 3-2, Glens pulled their goalkeeper in the final quarter as they chased a fourth goal that would give them a bonus point and a better shot at semi-final qualification next week. But the move backfired spectacularly as Andrew Ward and Stephen Cole smacked home into an unguarded net to turn the game in Monkstown’s favour, endings Glens’ hopes of progression.

Hermes became the first side to qualify for the women’s semi-finals, their 3-0 win over Catholic Institute dashing the Limerick side’s faint dreams of a last four berth.

Pegasus are best-placed to join them after a 3-0 win over Armagh, leapfrogging UCD who stumbled with a scoreless draw against Old Alex. The students go to Institute next week chasing down a one-point deficit, with Pegasus hosting Hermes.

Pool B is a three-horse race after the top two, Loreto and Railway Union, drew 1-1 at Beaufort, with Ballymoney the main beneficiaries as Megan Frazer celebrated her return to her home side’s colours after three seasons in America with two in a 5-0 rout of Lurgan.

Two points now separate the top three, with Railway heading to Cork to take on Harlequins next weekend while Loreto and Ballymoney lock horns at the latter’s Joey Dunlop Centre home. Quins are winning the battle of ‘best of the rest’ in Pool B, after Cliodhna Sargent’s brace and one from Kay Gaffney against her old club helped them see off local rivals UCC 3-0.

Domestically, Cork C of I retained the Munster Junior Cup with a 3-1 win over Cork Harlequins thanks to goals from Mark Holmes, Simon Wolfe and Wesley Brownlow while UCC’s men routed Catholic Institute 8-0 in Division 1 with braces for Shrew Power, Cian Kavanagh and Fionn O’Leary.