Ireland enjoy double success

Hockey: Profligacy is an issue for Ireland but it’s still a case of a job well done so far.

They began their Olympic qualification campaign with two wins at World League 2 in Dublin. Ireland could have won by three times the 5-0 score against Ukraine on Saturday — in which Anna O’Flanagan and Megan Frazer starred — before Aine Connery and Kate Dillon gave them enough breathing space to beat Canada 2-1 yesterday. Nonetheless, Ireland’s high tempo and fast build-up play is at least ensuring chances are coming, even if their clinical edge in the circle and at penalty corner time is fleeting at best. They meet Turkey in their final pool game tomorrow. Domestically, Cork C of I claimed the Munster men’s Division 1 title for the fourth year in a row with a 6-0 demolition of Bandon that doesn’t bode well for the West Cork men when the sides meet again in tomorrow’s Munster Senior Cup final.

Strikes from Jack Cherry and Fionn O’Leary ensured UCC drew 2-2 with Cork Harlequins to earn a place in the Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs.