Bandon on course for double

Bandon have a pair of national cup finals to look forward to after their men and women advanced to the deciders of the Irish Hockey Trophy on Saturday.

Denis Pritchard’s men, who have lost the last two deciders, will hope it is third time lucky after they had a satisfying 4-1 success away to Queens University, setting up a clash with Kilkenny who ousted Bangor on a 5-1 scoreline.

But it was David Buttimer’s ladies who produced the bigger shock, holding runaway Munster league leaders Catholic Institute to a scoreless draw in West Cork before prevailing 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out.

They’ll meet Avoca in the final.

There was also a major surprise in the women’s Irish Senior Cup where overwhelming favourites Hermes succumbed to Ards in a shoot-out after a 2-2 draw.

Ards will lock horns with holders Ulster Elks in the decider after a brace from Ireland captain Megan Frazer set them on their way to a 4-2 victory over UCD.

The men’s Irish Senior Cup finals went as predicted although Lisnagarvey had to work hard for their win, needing a shoot-out to shake off a youthful Three Rock Rovers side after a 3-3 stalemate.

They’ll play Monkstown after they advanced via a 6-2 success at Glenanne.

Cork Church of Ireland’s men booked a place in the Munster Senior Cup decider against Bandon, with a 4-1 win over UCC.

Four goals in the opening 22 minutes saw Limerick’s ladies see off Cashel/New Inn 4-1 in Munster’s Division 1 while there were big wins for Waterford and Cork C of I in the Division 1 Challenge over Clonmel and Blackrock respectively.

Ashton qualified for a second cup final of the season, goalkeeper Hannah Humphreys starring in their Division 2 Cup semi-final penalty strokes success over UCC.

Humphreys and her defence kept a dominant UCC outfit scoreless before the 16-year-old saved all four of the students’ penalties as Ashton edged the shoot-out 2-0.