C of I sound warning as ‘Town wallop Pembroke
This was a very comfortable victory for the Munster champions, for whom Andy Herbert was back to his imperious best in midfield, a major reversal from the defeat Glens inflicted on the hosts by the same scoreline the last time they met here in 2010.
Glens had their chances too but were all at sea at the back, allowing Ali Smith’s reverse to put C of I on the front foot.
Richard Lynch dug the ball out of Gareth Carragher’s pads to score the second before Simon Wolfe’s double suggested a hiding might be on the cards. Eddie O’Malley had a consolation for Glenanne.
Elsewhere in Pool B, YMCA won the Dublin derby at Milltown as they came from a goal down to beat Railway Union 3-1 while Banbridge continued their IHL hoodoo over Lisnagarvey, recovering a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2.
Monkstown blew away Leinster champions Pembroke in the first half to romp to a shock 6-1 victory.
This was a far cry from last weekend’s Irish Senior Cup final — won 5-4 by ‘Town after extra-time — as Andrew Ward, Kyle Good and Gareth Watkins laid waste to the purples’ defence for a 5-0 half-time lead.
Cookstown were equally impressive in defeating Cork Harlequins 6-1 at Garryduff. Quins are ravaged with injuries right now and the Tyrone men gradually wore them down, taking control with second-quarter goals from Jon Ames and Simon Todd as they avenged their ISC defeat in style. Instonians won the all-Ulster battle with Annadale 2-1.
Loreto made a massive statement of intent in the women’s competition, beating holders Railway Union 3-1 while Vanessa Surgeoner helped cut open Hermes with a brace as Pegasus ran out 4-1 winners.
In Cork, Catholic Institute were somewhat wasteful against an Ulster Elks side missing half a dozen regulars but still won 2-0.
Naomi Carroll and Kym Daly calmly set up a diving Eimear Cregan for the opener before the Elks missed a golden opportunity to equalise when Elaine Redmond saved Kirstie Lammey’s penalty stroke.
Lammey and Rachel King threatened occasionally for the Jordanstown side but Elaine Bromell made it safe for Insta from the penalty spot in the final quarter.
Cliodhna Sargent and Orlagh Cotter fired Cork Harlequins to a 2-1 win over Lurgan in Pool B while Ards stunned Leinster champs UCD 2-1 and Ballymoney beat Old Alex 3-0.
Catholic Institute’s men won their first national senior title in over 100 years in seeing off Cliftonville 3-2 in the Irish Hockey Challenge final at Belfield.
Initially, it looked as if they might run away with things, building a three-goal lead courtesy of Simon Brickenden’s double and a sharp John Wallace finish.
But player-coach Julian Stevenson — a former Irish international — inspired a superb comeback that almost forced extra-time, scoring one before David Hurley touched home with four minutes to go. Insta stood firm, though, to land the title.
Catriona Carey — sister of Kilkenny hurling legend DJ — piloted Kilkenny to a comfortable 4-0 win over Dungarvan in the women’s final.
