C of I, Quins back on track
Having fallen 7-2 at Banbridge in round one, C of I needed a victory on the road against Corinthian and kept their noses in front in a high-octane affair to win 3-2.
Neil Young cancelled out Alex Burns’ opener for C of I but they went back ahead from the penalty spot, Andy Gray converting the stroke before Simon Wolfe gave them a two-goal cushion. Jordan Sutton got one back for the hosts but C of I held on to take the points.
Bann and Monkstown are the teams to beat in Pool B however, after big wins over UCD (4-1) and Annadale (6-0) repsectively.
Cork Harlequins fell 8-2 away to Cookstown, Dan Hobbs netting both their goals, and will be glad to be on home turf for the first time next week. Visiting them will be a Lisnagarvey side fired by a 1-0 home loss to Pembroke — a second defeat for Corkman Jason Lynch to his younger brother Karl in recent weeks.
Quins’ women notched a superb result, winning 2-0 at home to one of the country’s most in-form sides, Ards.
An own goal plus a strike from Rachel McSharry did the damage and they’ll approach this weekend’s trip to take on pool leaders Pegasus — 4-1 winners over Ballymoney — in Belfast with increasing confidence. There was further good news for Quins with Loreto being held to a 1-1 draw by Old Alex.
Tournament favourites UCD took control of Pool A with a 7-0 demolition of Catholic Institute at Rosbrien, backboned by Katie Mullan’s hat-trick, while Greenfields caused a shock, a first win by a Connacht side as Mary Healy gave the Galwegians a 1-0 win at Lurgan.
Hermes’ hopes took another big blow as they fell to a second consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Railway Union. Elsewhere Munster sides performed well to advance to the Irish Trophy semi-finals; Cork C of I’s ladies came from 2-1 down to beat Rathgar 3-2 in Dublin, Ali O’Regan setting up an Amy Roberts equaliser before firing the winner herself.
Bandon’s men also had to dig deep to beat North Down 3-2, Munster U16 starlet Matthew Jennings scoring his first senior goal to force extra-time before German playmaker Julius Haendel netted a silver-goal winner.
