Crescent College Comprehensive target victory over Alexandra College
The Dooradoyle hosts struck late on through Meabh O’Sullivan’s second of the match to draw 2-2 with Ulster kingpins Methody yesterday, before Niamh O’Keeffe’s brace helped them to a 2-0 success over Loreto Kilkenny.
Crescent coach Sean O’Callaghan deemed Alex — with five Ireland U18 players in their ranks — favourites beforehand and they go into the decisive day with a maximum six points. They didn’t have it all their own way in wins against Salerno (2-1) and Loreto Kilkenny (4-1) but they have the only perfect record remaining.
Methody remained in the hunt, level on points with Crescent in second as Katie Larmour’s hat-trick underpinned their 5-3 success over Salerno. Alex’s meetings with Crescent and Methody today will have a huge bearing on the destination of the title, with the Limerick school also needing to avoid defeat against Salerno this morning to stay in contention.
Elsewhere, Cork Church of Ireland’s men will look to produce a huge effort for the biggest game of their EY Hockey League season, away to Cookstown tomorrow.
Ten games without a win —after three from three to start the campaign — has left C of I in a relegation battle with five rounds remaining. Three points in Tyrone against the league’s basement side, who lie two points behind C of I, would therefore be a welcome boon for the Garryduff men.
In the women’s competition, Cork Harlequins’ play-off hopes all but died last weekend but they could take UCD out of contention with victory at Farmers Cross.
UCC host Pegasus needing to avoid defeat and hoping Ards get nothing from their home tie against Pembroke to avoid being plunged into a promotion/relegation play-off. Sunday brings the Irish Junior Cup semi-finals, with Cork C of I’s men flying the Munster flag and looking to repeat their 2009 success as they visit Glenanne.
Crescent CC 2 (M O’Sullivan 2) Methodist College 2 (K Larmour, A Armstrong); Alexandra College 2 (I Delamar, A Acheson) Salerno 1 (M Corcoran); Crescent CC 2 (N O’Keeffe 2) Loreto Kilkenny 0; Methodist College 5 (K Larmour 3, M Bowyer, S McCollum) Salerno 3 (M Hughes, R Gilligan, E Burke); Alexandra College 4 (F McDermott 2, A Acheson, S Roopnarinesingh) Loreto Kilkenny 1 (J Brennan).
Loreto Kilkenny v Methodist College, 9.30am; Crescent College v Salerno, 11am; Methodist College v Alexandra College, 12.30pm; Salerno v Loreto Kilkenny, 2pm; Alexandra College v Crescent, 3.30pm
