UCC facing relegation battle

Ards matched UCC every step of the way over a turbulent EY Hockey League double weekend to leave the Cork students battling to avoid relegation.

College earned a fine 2-2 draw at UCD on Saturday through Saoirse O’Leary’s top corner deflection and an Antonia McGrath corner bash, only to find Ards had also drawn 1-1 at Cork Harlequins.

Kerry Harvey cancelled out Miriam Crowley’s opener with Quins down to nine. It meant Phil Oakley’s girls badly needed a win over Ards at the Mardyke yesterday but another 1-1 stalemate means ninth-placed College are two points behind Ards with two games remaining.

The Ulster girls also have a game in hand meaning College will need to beat at least one of the top three and hope Ards lose all three of their games to avoid a promotion/relegation playoff.

Meanwhile, Cork Harlequins’ playoff hopes have all but extinguished as a three-goal rally by aren Bateman and Cliodhna Sargent against champions Hermes was only enough for a 3-3 draw.

Cork Church of Ireland’s men went down late against EY Hockey League standard bearers Lisnagarvey to go down 3-2 at Comber Road.

The Garryduff men led at half-time through John Jermyn before Sean Murray and Timmy Cockram swapped the lead in the third quarter. Philip Sweetnam tied it again but Matthew Nelson’s winner made it 11 wins on the trot to move Garvey close to the title. With Annadale and Pembroke getting results against higher-ranked sides, C of I are now in a relegation dogfight with five rounds to go.

Elsewhere, Blackrock reached a national final for the first time four years after forming as they easily disposed of NUIG’s second string in the women’s Irish Challenge semis in Galway.

In Munster, it’s largely as you were in the women’s Division 1 after draws between Bandon and Catholic Institute, Ashton and Cashel/ New Inn and Limerick and Bandon.