Nikki Evans strikes at death to edge out Harlequins

Skipper Nikki Evans struck late to keep Hermes/Monkstown in the driving seat as they edged a riveting top of the table EY Hockey League battle with Cork Harlequins 3-2 at Rathdown.

Rebecca Barry cancelled out Liz McInerney’s opener for Monkstown and Yvonne O’Byrne gave Quins a 2-1 half-time lead with six cards already having been shown.

But Chloe Watkins’ corner sweep tied it again and although Quins had big chances through O’Byrne and Karen Bateman, Evans won it in the dying seconds for Town when her reverse deceived Quins netminder Emma Buckley.