Things looking Rosie for Institute

Another week, another twist in the increasingly intriguing battle for supremacy in the Munster women’s Division One. Points dropped has become more important than points accumulated, in what looks set to be a four-pronged assault on the title that has resided at Harlequin Park for the past 14 seasons.

Quins’ surprise reverse at home to Bandon last weekend had paved the way for Catholic Institute or Cork C of I to take advantage as the sides met at Garryduff today – and it was the Limerick girls who came away with all three points, a 1-0 win sufficing.

Catholic Institute's Rosie Pratt tackles Cork C of I's Eimear Connery. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Institute coach Ger O’Carroll is making more than a decent fist of incorporating the best of the Treaty city’s promising talent into a side that were synonymous with mid-table obscurity until recently.

They showed flickers of promise last term, but the return of talismanic sweeper Elaine Bromell and the increasing responsibility shouldered by their young guns – the outstanding quartet of Naomi Carroll, Rebecca Barry, Roisin Upton and Katie Campbell in particular – has seen them emerge as genuine contenders for the title.

They came flying out of the traps at Garryduff, knowing that a failure to pick up a result would leave them facing an uphill battle to be in touch come the business end of the season, with Naomi Carroll’s centre almost finding a team-mate’s stick at the back post.

But they had goalkeeper Ciara Ronan to thank as C of I almost hit the front off their first attack of substance – the Munster senior interpro saw Claire Hickey’s bottom corner-bound first-time strike late, but turned it around the post with a miraculous stick save.

Despite losing Edel Higgins to a yellow card – the first of three in a feisty encounter – midway through the first half for a dangerous stick chop from behind on Sinéad Connery, Institute continued to play the slicker hockey.

It finally yielded something tangible in the 30th minute. Kym Daly – whose midfield duel with Connery was the game’s most intriguing sub-plot – got around the back of the C of I rearguard and squared to Campbell from the byline.

The Munster U18 starlet’s high first-time strike was saved by Orla McCarthy – who had a fine outing between the sticks for C of I – but Rosie Pratt was well-placed to bury the rebound.

Cork C of I's Amy Kate Trevor attacks the Catholic Institute defence. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Connery then followed Higgins to the sideline for verbals – and served the full ten minutes – while Campbell almost augmented Institute’s lead eight minutes after the break, chipping a reverse wide after mugging Mel Ryan on the C of I 25.

The momentum then appeared to be swinging C of I’s way as the half wore on, sparked by Institute skipper Caroline Hutchinson serving time on a team yellow card for over-physical tackling.

It was during this period that Amy Kate Trevor showed that not all of Munster’s sparkling talent is located in Limerick, belying her years with a mature performance and ending the game as the contest’s dominant midfielder.

C of I forced a glut of corners around the 56th minute, but found Ronan immovable in the Institute goal, and the Rosbrien outfit held out for victory. With all three of their title rivals yet to visit Limerick this term, they will be delighted to have turned over one of Cork’s big three on home soil.

Despite that success, it is UCC who remain top of the standings, after a workmanlike 3-0 win over Waterford at Mount Mercy. The students are mathematically the side best off at the moment, as they are now the only unbeaten team in the division, and they lead the way by a point from Institute.

College had Irish internationals Audrey O’Flynn and Julia O’Halloran present and correct after their week-long training camp in Alicante, but they weren’t required as fringe players such as Lisa Treacy and Ali Kiernan were instead given opportunities to shine.

UCC's Olivia Roycroft keeps her eye on the ball against Waterford. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

All three of their goals came in the first period; Ali O’Regan and Fiona O’Connell both finished tidily after good build-up play created space in the circle, before Miriam Crowley’s third effectively ended the contest.

College dominated a scrappy second half, but will be worried at their failure to augment their advantage, with at least half a dozen corners going begging, though credit is due to a Waterford outfit that defended resolutely throughout.

Meanwhile, Ashton found themselves in the crossfire of a Quins outfit with plenty of ire to get out of their system after last weekend’s shock reverse, the champions cruising to a 7-0 win.

Ashton were without their talismanic goalkeeper Vanessa Sargent, and had little answer to Quins’ veteran combo of Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman, who shared five goals between them, while Jane Chapple and Acacia Taylor – the latter scoring her first top-flight goal – completed the rout.

On Sunday, Bandon picked up their second win of the season – and second in succession, in defeating basement side UL 4-0 in west Cork.

While the visitors held their hosts for the opening half hour, conceding a penalty stroke in either half – both converted by Amy Roycroft – didn’t help their cause, with Louise O’Flynn adding a corner goal and Jane O’Higgins one from play as Bandon moved into sixth place.

Meanwhile, UCC will fly the flag for Munster in the last eight of the Irish Junior Cup, after they were the only one of four sides from the southern province to survive round three.

Pat Healy’s side have endured a frustrating league campaign and currently prop up Division Two, but have reserved their best performances for the national stage, first seeing off Quins on penalty strokes before defeating Armagh 2-1 this weekend.

In a nice show of inter-club support, a number of the vanquished Quins players looked on at Ashton School, as the visitors’ Diane McKinstry cancelled out Laoise Cotter’s opener.

UCC players in good humour after their Irish Junior Cup win over Armagh. Picture courtesy of Ali Kiernan.

But College skipper Ali Kiernan popped the ball home after a goalmouth scramble with 15 minutes to go, and Lisa Treacy, Jennifer O’Flynn and Kate O’Sullivan helped repel the predictable Armagh onsalught to book a place in the quarter-finals on February 13. A trip north to Lurgan – currently third in the Ulster junior ladies’ top flight – awaits them.

It was a weekend to forget for Munster’s other three sides looking to advance; strikes from Niamh Codyre and Alison Hynes were enough for Galway to see off UL 2-0, while Railway Union edged out Catholic Institute’s second by the odd goal in three and Bandon crashed 5-0 at home to Randalstown.

For the full set of Eoin Tyrrell’s pictures from C of I vs Institute, click here, and for his pictures from UCC vs Waterford, click here.