Cork Harlequins super showing

Cork Harlequins ladies produced one of their best performances of a rollercoaster EY Hockey League campaign to trounce Pembroke Wanderers 5-1 on Saturday.

Five players got on the scoresheet with four goals coming in a 16-minute blitz to move Quins to fifth — within striking distance of Railway Union in second.

Hermes dropped points for the first time in 13 games as Pegasus held them to a 3-3 draw in Belfast, while UCC were thrashed 7-0 by a rejuvenated Ulster Elks on Saturday before going down 3-1 to UCD on Sunday, both at home.

It means their March 6 clash with Ards and the preceding clashes with Pembroke and UCD will need to be targeted for points if they are to avoid a relegation battle.

UCD were the weekend’s big movers, a 3-2 success over Railway and that win at UCC propelling them into second.

On the men’s side, Lisnagarvey retained their seven-point advantage at the summit of the EY Hockey League with a 4-0 success over Banbridge.

Three Rock Rovers returned to the top four with a 1-0 win over Railway Union. Glenanne fell to a shock 3-2 reverse to basement side Cookstown while Cork C of I’s hopes were dashed as James Cox levelled in the last minute for Annadale . Second-placed Monkstown were comfortable winners over Pembroke.

Domestically, the week-end’s big result came at Ashton where the hosts recorded a first top flight win over Cork Harlequins since 1984, a spectacular 4-3 success.

Ashton’s women were left to rue a missed penalty stroke in the final minute of a clash with Catholic Institute.