Quins queens of Munster yet again

Cork Harlequins claimed their 17th women’s Munster Senior League title in 19 seasons with a comprehensive 4-0 dismantling of Catholic Institute at Rosbrien yesterday.

Needing just a point to secure the honours, it was fitting Rachael Kohler was at the heart of the effort, having only missed one of those title wins.

Abby Oakes and Laurene Buckley put the disappointment of Mount Mercy’s senior schoolgirls cup final loss on Friday behind them to net Quins’ first and third goals.

Oakes deflected home a short corner in the first half and Buckley finished off Lesley-Ann Daunt’s good approach work, with Cliodhna Sargent netting a corner in between.

Karen Bateman slid in for number four, again teed up by Daunt, late on as Institute were forced to play on the counter without talismanic forward Naomi Carroll.

The result opens the door for UCC to snatch second and automatic Irish Hockey League qualification away from Insta, should they avoid defeat in their final league clash at home to fourth-placed Cork C of I.

Elsewhere, UCC strolled into the men’s Munster Senior Cup final with a surprise 7-1 win in Bandon.

A trio of short corner goals from Andrew Scannell, Fionn O’Leary and Gary Wilkinson, plus a Scannell penalty stroke, meant this was all but over at half-time. Greg Chambers crashed one in off both posts, Shrew Power finished a smooth counter-attack and there was also an own goal, while Bandon pulled one back through Munster U18 captain Colin Kingston.

Meanwhile, Ireland U21 captain Nick Burns scored twice but the Cork man’s goals weren’t enough to prevent UCD losing the Mills Cup final 4-2 to Three Rock Rovers. Railway Union edged Trinity to take the women’s Jacqui Potter Cup decider 2-1.