Cork Harlequins move quietly back into league contention
Sinead Collins’ incredible goalkeeping couldn’t prevent Cliodhna Sargent scoring four, while Olivia Roycroft got her sixth of the campaign.
Pegasus’ 2-1 success over Ulster Elks, who drop to fourth, and a scoreless draw between Pembroke and Railway Union has further congested the table.
Quins lie nine points off leaders Hermes but will fancy their chances of consolidating their top four spot when they face UCC in the Cork derby next weekend. College could be undercooked for that after their game was postponed for the second successive weekend. They were due to take on Hermes this time around but both clubs curiously claimed different reasons for the postponement on Twitter. UCC cited “weather-related travel issues” for the Dubliners, who responded by asserting that the Mardyke pitch in Cork was unplayable.
Cork Church of Ireland’s red-hot early season form seems like a distant memory as they fell to a third men’s EYHL defeat in four games at Railway Union (1-0) on Saturday.
Mark English’s early reverse-stick strike decided this one as C of I’s away day blues continued, dropping them to seventh place in the 10-team league. After taking just one point from four successive games on the road, a win against fellow strugglers Pembroke Wanderers at Garryduff in next weekend’s final game of 2015 is a must to keep them in touch in a congested mid-table.
Pembroke’s woes continued as a contentious last-minute goal from Gary Shaw gave resurgent Glenanne a 1-0 success at Serpentine Avenue. Lisnagarvey stay top as they dismantled Three Rock Rovers 4-0; nearest rivals Monkstown and Banbridge drew 1-1 and both lost ground.
The Peard Cup final will be a novel clash between UCC and Bandon. The absence of national league outfit C of I from this year’s competition ensures there’ll be a new champion on St Stephen’s Day; College won 10-1 in Galway while Bandon beat Cork Harlequins 6-0 and C of I’s seconds 2-0 to join them in the decider. Bandon’s ladies had a weekend to remember as they progressed to the last four of the women’s Irish Hockey Trophy by winning 2-1 at North Kildare on Saturday, and followed up with a 3-0 win over Clonakilty in Munster Division 1’s first West Cork derby.
Ashton produced their best performance of the campaign to recover from going behind to an early Aoife Collins rocket to defeat Cork C of I 4-1. Emma Harrington — returning from representing Ireland in the Tag Rugby World Cup in Australia — impressed, scoring one and setting up others. It leaves Cashel New Inn’s midweek trip to Catholic Institute — whose Irish Trophy clash with Clontarf fell victim to the weather — as the last loose end to be tied up in the league in 2015. A point against the league’s pace-setters would give the Tipp girls the final place in Division 1 when the league splits after Christmas.
Should they lose, a playoff against Clonakilty will be required to determine who stays up and who drops to the Division 1 Challenge. Waterford and C of I are already there, with Blackrock, Fermoy and Clonmel moving up from Division 1B to complete the Challenge lineup in the new year.
