Mixed luck for Munster sides

Cork Church of Ireland and UCC marched into round two of the men’s Irish Senior Cup but the alarming decline in Cork Harlequins’ fortunes continues.

Dragflickers Julian Dale and Sam Grace - who were both named in Andrew Gray’s Munster U21 panel yesterday - settled ties for C of I and UCC. The Garryduff men scrapped to a win at Corinthians while College saw off university rivals Trinity, both on 1-0 scorelines.

Ireland U18 starlet Dale joined C of I in the summer, having come up through the youth system at rivals Harlequins, to gain experience in the EY Hockey League. The club he left behind have since continued to fall on hard times in men’s hockey.