Institute secure place in IHL

Catholic Institute ensured automatic Irish Hockey League qualification for the 2013/14 season as they resisted a strong UCC challenge to win 3-1 at the Mardyke on Saturday.

Ger O’Carroll’s side needed to deny the students victory to ensure a second-placed Munster league finish behind champions Cork Harlequins, and set about their task early on, Eimear Cregan creating some room in the circle to reverse past Emma White in the UCC goal.

Insta seemed to be firmly in control when Kym Daly rode a couple of tackles down the right and fed Cregan, who drew White to the near post and squared for Naomi Carroll to finish.

College struggled to find their feet despite some tidy interventions from Amy-Kate Trevor, Aine Curran and Olivia Roycroft, with Aoife Kenny excelling at the back for Institute.

But that all changed as College came flying out of the blocks in the second half, netting a goal via a sweet short corner strike from Ireland U21 midfielder Curran.

UCC created a few more chances to tie it up but still Insta looked more dangerous; Katie Campbell felt hard done by not to get a penalty stroke when claiming she was impeded by White, having sent the ball past the keeper, but she got no change from the umpires.

It mattered little as Irish international Carroll’s instinctive first-time finish to a right-wing cross, batting the ball to the far corner, sealed victory for Institute.

College must now negotiate the always tricky territory of the IHL wildcard playoffs — should they choose to attend. The staging of that tournament in May saw the students give up their place in 2012, citing exam commitments. They will feel they have a more realistic chance of making it through this time around however, with a stronger squad at their disposal.

Leinster’s Old Alex Connacht champions Greenfields and one of Lurgan, Ards and Queens University will await UCC in the wildcards.

Meanwhile, Lisnagarvey’s EuroHockey League exit on Friday has not ended Irish interest in the continent’s most prized club trophy.

Beeston, featuring former Irish internationals Tim Lewis and David Ames, lock horns with in-form Dutch outfit Bloemendaal in Amsterdam today for a place in the semi-finals. Belgium’s KHC Dragons — 7-2 winners over ‘Garvey in the last 16 and featuring former Irish top goalscorer Stephen Butler — were equally impressive dispatching Reading 5-1 yesterday, ending the hopes of the English side’s Bangor native and Irish international Chris Cargo.