Cork Harlequins sweeper John Hobbs is among the nominees for the men’s club player of the year, an award given for the best performances by players who are not regulars in Irish international squads.

Hobbs, whose aerials and drag-flicks pose a constant threat for Quins, faces still competition for the award from Lisnagarvey’s John Gray, profilic forward Maurice Elliott of Pembroke Wanderers and Monkstown talisman Gareth Watkins.

Quins John Hobbs: nominated for men's club player of the year at the IHA awards. Picture: Adrian Boehm

His club-mate Karen Bateman is nominated in the women’s club player category, a reward for another fine season in which her goalscoring rate and appetite for the game has not waned despite advancing years and increasing family commitments.

Bateman is still the fulcrum of the Quins side and there are many who feel she would still be an Irish team regular if she had not retired from the international game.

Nonetheless, the competition is fierce in this category too; Isobel Joyce has been a model of consistency for Railway, Anna O’Flanagan a constant source of goals for Hermes and Arlene Boyles is still Pegasus’ on-field general.

Nick Burns is up for U18 Male Player of the Year, following a season in which he made a breakthough with C of I’s first team and helped guide Midleton College to a first Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup victory in 20 years.

His opposition in this category comes from classy Cookstown man Ian Sloan and hotshots Stephen Dowds and Shane O’Donoghue of Banbridge and Glenanne respectively.

Cork Harlequins coaches are to the fore in their categories, with Eddie Gash – boss of Quins ladies firsts and Bandon Grammar’s senior girls and manager of Munster’s senior men and girls U16 sides – up against Mick McKinnon (Railway ladies) Craig Fulton (Pembroke men) and Gareth Grundie (NICS men).

David Egner, coach to two Munster ladies’ teams – U18 and Junior – is up for the U18 coach of the year gong, along with Mandy Holloway (St Andrews), Richie Malone (Connacht/Galway) and Miles Warren (Alex/Old Alex).

Elsewhere, Bruff – who dominated the women’s Division Six this term – are up against Malahide and North Kildare for the Developing Club of the Year gong, while Ivy Dennis of the Munster Branch is among the Volunteer of the Year nominees.

The full list of nominees for all the awards can be seen here.

LIMERICK: John Meyler has hailed an “outstanding year” for his Limerick ladies firsts side, after they completed the Division Four double last weekend.

Having defeated Tipperary 3-0 in the section’s cup final, Meyler’s troops faced them again in their final league game, knowing a win would give them the title, but defeat would leave the sides and Ashton locked in a three-way playoff.

Goals from Aoife Ryan and Ciara Hayes quelled the Tipperary revenge mission as they held out for a 2-1 win, leaving Meyler – who also managed the Munster junior men’s side this term – ectsatic.

The victorious Midleton U16 team, with coach Clive Seale. Picture: Paul Colton

“I’m so proud of his 3 ladies teams, they work so hard all year round,” he said. “I am only delighted to see them get their rewards and wish to thank LHC for all their support throughout the year.”

Limerick;s Division Five team also won their league at the first time of asking and now go to Division Four, while the club’s and their new Division Six team finished in the top four of their league and won the league’s plate competition.

SCHOOLS: A hat-trick from Andrew Colton helped Midleton College make history by picking up a schoolboys treble for the first time in the school’s history, as they defeated Ashton 3-2 in the U16 decider in midweek.

Colton had his side 2-0 to the good at half-time, but as they had done in the senior decider five days earlier, Ashton rallied, and drew level before Colton’s late drag-flick gave Midleton the spoils.

VETS: The Munster Vets Tournament date has been moved to May 22 in Garryduff, it emerged today. The IHA are seeking to hold a mixed six-a-side evening tournament on the day, and are asking clubs to submit teams before May 14.

The IHA’s western RDO Phil Oakley said: “The piloting of the event is part of a longer term strategy to increase the number of active vets players in the province and attempt to form a formalised number of events in Munster each season.

“It is likely that if this event is successful, another one will be held in late 2010.

“The six-a-side format is to allow clubs who do not have large vets numbers to participate and we can run several games off on one pitch.”

The rules of the tournament are yet to be fully agreed, however it will include the following:

6-a-side (squads of 9), no goalkeepers on a third of the pitch; goals scored within a 10-metre area; must be at least three women on the pitch at all times; ages are 30 for women and 35 for men; standard hockey rules including the auto-pass during games; games to be umpired by resting teams; €80 per team entry fee.

The event will be run for 3-4 hours, with a social event in the clubhouse afterwards.

Having watched Ashton and Bandon Grammar dominate since the 1990s, Midleton were quietly confident that they’d something of a golden generation ripening in time for this year’s tournament.

And that old maxim of taking your chances was the primary reason for the east Cork school’s first success since 1990, which back then had been the second part of a double.

Midleton's Nick Burns wavers close to the sidelines under pressure from Ashton's Richard Sweetnam. Picture: Ondine Roche

They had stars in the spine of their team in the irresistibly skilful Nick Burns and Adam O’Callaghan, but it was some of their lesser-lauded players — the likes of goalkeeper Charlie O’Sullivan, Andrew Power and Greg Chambers — who were the catalyst for victory.

Ashton will reflect ruefully on a day when their short corner machine failed to fire, with Wes Brownlow’s drag-flick radar decisively askew.

That they won the corner count 11-3, but still tasted defeat, was a reflection of an overall possession advantage which they failed to press home.

Having fallen to Bandon Grammar on penalty strokes in last year’s decider, this will have been a tough defeat for the city school’s sixth years to take, but in Gary Wilkinson and Richard Sweetnam, they have a couple of stars of the future.

Following an untidy first quarter, Irish underage international Burns fired Midleton ahead with a trademark drag-flick in the 21st minute.

And that advantage was doubled by Chambers 10 minutes later, the forward instinctively batting home a rebound after Power’s initial shot had been repelled by Deasy.

O’Sullivan produced the necessary heroics at the other end — a double save from Wes Brownlow’s drag and Peter Catchpole’s stinging reverse rebound stood out — to keep Midleton’s lead intact at the break.

Ashton finally hit back 12 minutes into the second period, when Wilkinson stuck in a tidy upright reverse rebound after O’Sullivan had batted out Brownlow’s stinging drag.

But Chambers swept home his second following Power’s stunning 30-metre surge to restore the two-goal cushion with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

Midleton captain Adam O'Callaghan collides with Ashton's Nathan Gokul. Picture: Ondine Roche

Midleton then wasted a great chance to put the game beyond reach, when Burns found Chambers on a breakaway and he produced a fine reverse-stick cross, but Ned Hodson delayed his shot for long enough for Cormac Deasy to smother the danger.

Ashton took this miss as an invitation to launch a sustained last-ditch offensive. Having seen all manner of corner routines fail, the simplest of them all found a reprieve, as skipper Catchpole’s low, central straight hit found the backboard.

Stephen Swanton had a glorious chance to force extra time as Midleton were forced into a backs-to-the-wall effort for seven agonising added minutes, but he scooped his shot wide after being put through one-on-one with O’Sullivan, and Midleton survived the late onslaught to spark wild celebrations in the sun.

MIDLETON: C O’Sullivan (GK); N Burns, Andrew Colton, A Power, G Chambers, D James, J Sweetnam, N Hodson, A O’Callaghan (capt), O Jermyn, Adam Colton, B Doyle (GK), A Daly, S O’Sullivan, A Simonin, D Stead.

ASHTON: C Deasy (GK); S O’Grady, P Catchpole, W Brownlow, N Gokul, S Swanton, W Johnston, R Lynch, M Holland, R Sweetnam, C Casey, G Wilkinson, D Doherty.

Umpires: P Oakley & F Kelleher

For the full set of Ondine Roche and Rachel McSharry’s pictures from the final, click here.

Andrew Scannell's two goals weren't enough to stop BGS finishing bottom of Pool A. Picture: Stephen Findlater

He calmly rolled home from six yards after superb work from Alan White along the right base-line to add the Waring title to the enlarged All-Ireland title won back in November and a Leinster league title.

They now go to The Hague at Easter to represent Ireland in the European school’s hockey championships.

Munster’s two representatives, Bandon Grammar and Ashton, fell at the group stage in the competition held in Ballinteer yesterday.

Drawn in the group of death, Ashton fell 2-1 to Ulster champions Banbridge in their opening fixture despite taking an early lead through William Johnston and ended with a 4-1 turnover at the hands of Wesley despite tying 1-1 at half-time, thanks to Wesley Brownlow.

Andrew Scannell struck a goal in each game for Bandon Grammar, but they lost out 3-1 and 2-1 to St Andrew’s and Belfast’s Campbell College respectively.

For the full set of Stephen Findlater’s picture from the tournament, click here.

John Waring All-Ireland Schoolboy’s Championship

Pool A

Bandon 1 (A Scannell) St Andrew’s 3 (D Watkins, C Stephens, F Maher)

Campbell College 0 St Andrew’s 0

Campbell College 2 (A Williamson, C Morrow) Bandon 1 (A Scannell)

Standings: 1. St Andrew’s 3pts (+2) 2. Campbell 3pts (+1) 3. Bandon 0pts (-3)

Pool B

Banbridge Academy 2 (Phil Brown, H McShane) Ashton 1 (W Johnston)

Wesley 4 (L Chadwick, P English, R Burke, C Motyer) Ashton 1 (W Brownlow)

Wesley 2 (P English 2) Banbridge Academy 1 (Phil Brown)

Standings: 1. Wesley 4pts (+4) 2. Banbridge 2pts (0) 3. Ashton 0pts (-4)

AGONY AND ECSTACY FOR ANGELA’S

It was a week of mixed emotions for the girl’s of St Angela’s, who lost out to Villiers in the Munster Senior B Schoolgirls Cup final, before bouncing back to claim the league title 48 hours later.

The Patrick’s Hill school boast an experienced squad this term wit 17 of their 18-strong squad in sixth year, while the other player, Kate Harvey, is a Munster U16 representative.

They faced down Villiers at Mount Mercy on Monday, knowing they had to contain the Limerick side’s obvious threat, Munster U21 starlet Katie Campbell.

She made constant dangerous forays down the wings, and helped her side to a single-goal lead at the break, finishing emphatically with a straight hit from a corner.

Villiers skipper Elaine Shehan and deputy Sarah Mooney were to the fore on the resumption, but they couldn’t prevent Angela’s hitting back when a short corner move was worker back to the push-out spot, and Fiona Nation was on hand to finish.

The 2009/10 St Angela's team with coach Vicky O'Sullivan and manager Sarah Gray. Picture courtesy of Louise Gregor

A controversial strike won the game for Villiers with six minutes remaining, as Campbell split the defence for Rachel Brickenden to smash home.

Angela’s claimed the ball hit a foot in the build-up, but the goal stood to end a seven-year cup drought for Villiers.

However, Angela’s – coached and managed by the UCC trio of Paidi Hartnett, Vicky O’Sullivan and Sarah Gray, with five other College members as assistants – made amends in emphatic style on Wednesday, defeating Ursulines on penalties on unfamiliar turf in Thurles, following a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time.

Having won there in the cup semi-final, Angela’s nonetheless held the tag of favourites, and they went ahead when Sarah Clune met Kate Humphreys’ cross to score.

Ursulines hit back with goals either side of the break, but Kate Harvey equalised when she was fed by captain Maeve O’Callaghan, and converted a one-on-one.

Two-all at the end of normal time, until Nation put Angela’s in front with a carbon copy of her cup final strike, only for Ursulines to again hit back.

Ann Harvey had a goal disallowed in the second half of extra time for an earlier autopass foul, but Kate Harvey provded the side’s hero as she converted the vital sudden-death penalty stroke to claim a very satisfying victory.

ST ANGELA’S: Sinead Freeman (GK), Maeve O’Callaghan (capt), Sarah Clune (v.capt), Louise Gregor, Fiona Nation, Jenny Logan-Lane, Rhea Tummon, Laura McCarthy, Emma Counihan, Claire Allen, Ciara Clarke, Jessica Higgenbottom, Kate Humphreys, Ann Harvey, Kate Harvey, Lucy Bradfield, Kate Fitgerald, Rhea Lewis. Coach: Paidi Hartnett, Vicky O’Sullivan Manager: Sarah Gray.

VILLIERS: Katie Campbell, Niamh Danaher, Gema Ryan, Emma Walker, Annabel Ayres, Claire Casey, Stephanie Shine, Sarah Mooney (vice captain), Suzanne Roe, Kate Robson, Chloe Williamson,  Rebecca Cardy, Tanya Powell, Elisa Senger, Ruth Sheppard, Rachel Brickenden, Elaine Sheahan (capt), Shauna Greaney, Sarah Condren, Sarah Coffey. Coaches: Bev Gray and Nicola Sterritt.

A 3-0 defeat to holders Jes was followed by more misfortune as they went down 2-1 to Loreto Kilkenny, meaning they were left in a playoff with Salerno to avoid the wooden spoon.

Happily for Ollie O’Connor’s girls, they finished with a real flourish, defeating the Galway side 3-0 thanks to a Karen McGrath double and a Ciara Moloney effort.

St Andrew’s produced an incredible comeback to fight their way into the final, recovering from a three goal deficit to tie with Royal School, Armagh.

Laura Pinder hit home a short corner on the final hooter to level the game 3-3 and advance ahead of the Ulster champions – who were going for a third title in four years – on goal difference by virtue of an earlier 6-0 win over Salerno.

Armagh mustered four goals against the Galway side and looked on course to take up a final berth when youth internationals Leah Ewart and Anna-Mae Morton along with Jill Johnston built what looked a commanding lead against Andrew’s.

But Niamh Atcheler gave them a lifeline 20 minutes from the end before Chloe Watkins netted a penalty stroke to set up a grandstand finish.

Zoe Troughton kept out numerous penalty corners from the Dubliners but she was powerless to prevent Pinder’s last gasp effort, capping an incredible comeback.

The Booterstown school now face reigning champions Colaiste Iognaid in the final today (1.30pm).

The Jes had a slightly simpler passage, defeating Crescent College 3-0 before coming back from a goal deficit to defeat Loreto, Kilkenny before winning out 3-2 with Brenda Flannery, Lynsey Trainor, Elaine Carey and Katie Codyre key performers.

It sets up a repeat of last year’s epic group match which ended 2-2 in normal time, precipitating a penalty shoot-out to see who topped the group after all variables were tied.

The Galway girls prevailed 4-2 before defeating Foyle in the final to take the trophy back to Connacht for the first time since 1988.

Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships

Colaiste Iognaid 3 (Niamh Codyre 2, Lynsey Trainor) Crescent Comprehensive 0

Colaiste Iognaid 3 (Elaine Carey, Michelle Carey, Eavan Murphy) Loreto Kilkenny 2 (Grace Walsh, Aoife Murphy)

Loreto Kilkenny 2 (Aisling O’Grady, Aine Curran) Crescent Comprehensive 1

Final standings: 1. Colaiste Iognaid 4pts (+4) 2. Loreto, Kilkenny 2pts (0) 3. Crescent Comprehensive 0pts (-4)

Group B

Royal School Armagh 4 (Joanne Orr, Sarah McMahon, Leah Ewart, Beccy Anderson) Salerno 0

St Andrews 6 (Niamh Atcheler, Laura Stephens, Hayley Sarratt, Chloe Watkins, Sophie Marshall, Joanne Lavery) Salerno 0

Royal School Armagh 3 (Leah Ewart, Anna-Mae Morton, Jill Johnston) St Andrews 3 (Laura Pinder, Niamh Atcheler, Chloe Watkins)

Standings: 1. St Andrew’s 3pts (+6) 2. Royal School Armagh 3pts (+4) 3. Salerno 0pts (-10)

Friday’s fixtures:
Final,1.30pm: St Andrew’s vs Colaiste Iognaid
3rd/4th place, 11.30am: Loreto, Kilkenny vs Royal School, Armagh
5th/6th place, 9.30am: Salerno vs Crescent College

Words: Stephen Findlater

The pendulum had swung spectacularly from one end to the other, as evidenced by the 19 short corners accrued by both sides, but Crescent had the extra gas when required to see themselves over the line.

For Mount Mercy, it was a galling loss. While they’d had little answer to a rampant Laurel Hill Coláiste in the 2008 decider, the knowledge that they could easily have come out on top here – converting just one of their 11 corners – will be of little comfort.

2010 Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup winners Crescent College Comprehensive

Nonetheless, few can begrudge Crescent a win inspired by the solidity of skipper Geena Kinevane and her deputy Eimear McManus at the rear, and the ingenuity of Ciara O’Sullivan, Orla Donworth and Karen McGrath at the other end.

In between, Ireland U16 starlet Roisin Upton was, predictably, the catalyst for much of their good work, and her battle for supremacy in the middle with Mount Mercy skipper Yvonne O’Byrne was a significant highlight.

Mount Mercy had their stars too; Allyson Moore’s pace and one-handed ball control frightened the life out of the Crescent defence, while Ciara Lucey and Elisa Buckley and rookie right-back Kate O’Herlihy were industrious to a fault.

McGrath produced the best opening of a cagey first quarter, scorching clear on the right and slipping the ball past Mount Mercy netminder Susan Peters, only to see Buckley get back to make a miraculous clearance off the line.

Both sides were guilty of conceding penalty corners far too easily, and also for wasting them; it took six set-pieces for either keeper to be tested, Aoife McNamara saving well from an O’Byrne thunderbolt.

Following a scoreless first half, Crescent finally hit the front on 42 minutes from a corner. Upton shaped to drag-flick, but instead delivered a disguised pass to Orla Hickey in the push-out spot, and she made no mistake from close range.

Both goalkeepers remained busy as the sides continued to carve out chances on the break, but the Cork school then found an equaliser with seven minutes remaining.

Again, it came from a set-piece, O’Byrne’s shot ricocheting high off McNamara’s pads, but umpires Liz Clifford and Gráinne O’Connell played a clever advantage, and Emily O’Leary batted home in mid-air.

Upton saw a drag-flick well saved by Peters as Crescent pushed for a winner, and the Limerick nursery kept that momentum going into extra time to get the all-important strikes.

The first came on 63 minutes, when Hickey got the vital touch amid a scramble for her second, and the third was a strike worth winning any game.

Upton’s searching aerial out of defence found Hickey rampaging down the right, she crossed to Ciara O’Sullivan at the far post, and the forward had the presence of mind to square for Ciara Nolan, who rifled the ball hard and low to the backboard.

Both sides had further chance as tired legs saw the game open up even more, notably when O’Sullivan was sent clear but couldn’t get the ball off her reverse to get a clean strike, and Peters smothered the danger.

O’Byrne and O’Leary had half-chances for Mount Mercy as they sought to salvage something, but Crescent rarely looked like losing their grip and held out for a win that sees them heading to Galway in a fortnight’s time as Munster’s representative in the All-Ireland Kate Russell Cup.

CRESCENT: Aoife McNamara (GK); Laura O’Kane, Geena Kinevane (capt), Karen Fitzgerald, Eimear McManus (vice-capt), Roisin Upton, Ciara Moloney, Orla Hickey, Ciara O’Sullivan, Katie Flinn, Karen McGrath, Orla Donworth, Tara Lyons, Aileen McMahon, Georgia Flemming, Orla Joyce, Ciara Nolan, Lisa Barrett.

MOUNT MERCY: Susan Peters (GK); Kate O’Herlihy, Ciara Mullane, Niamh Byrne, Grace Kelleher, Jill Cremin, Yvonne O’Byrne (capt), Ciara Lucey, Emily O’Leary, Elisa Buckley, Eve Kaar, Aoibheann O’Donovan, Allyson Moore, Jennifer Murphy, Sarah Browner, Sarah Wrixon (GK).

Umpires: Liz Clifford and Gráinne O’Connell

Note: I unfortunately have no pictures of this game to hand, but would gladly accept whatever anyone wishes to send in to munsterhockeyblog@gmail.com

The Model Farm Road school had a vintage crop of players in the middle of the last decade — four of whom have gone on to become Irish internationals — culminating in All-Ireland glory in 2006.

While the class of 2010 doesn’t have quite as many star names, there is the nucleus of a fine side, who will be keen to avoid the fate suffered by the Cork school two years ago, when they were humbled by Laurel Hill Coláiste in the decider.

Crescent's Roisin Upton (right) could have a huge say in her school's fate in today's final. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Skipper Yvonne O’Byrne is the class of 2010’s side’s taliswoman, leading by example from the back. Jennifer Murphy and Emily O’Leary are others with top-level club experience, while goalkeeper Susan Peters is one of the youngest members of this year’s Munster U21 side.

Standing in their way is a Crescent side that has flourished under the guidance of Ollie O’Connor.

The Limerick school were defeated in the last four by eventual winners Bandon Grammar last term, but avenged that loss by ending the west Cork school’s reign in the quarter-finals, and led by captain Geena Kinevane, have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack.

The return of prolific centre-forward Aileen McMahon — who sat out the 1-0 semi-final win over Scoil Mhuire, but has scored in the majority of games she has played this term — is a significant boon for themCrescent.

Goalkeeper Aoife McNamara and Ciara Moloney have been in fine form, while in Ireland U16 international Roisín Upton, Crescent possess one of the most precocious talents in the country.

Still just 15, Upton has slotted comfortably into senior hockey with Catholic Institute this season, and possesses a mean drag-flick, a rare talent at any level of the women’s game.

As well as taking bragging rights in Munster, today’s winner will also qualify for the ESB Kate Russell Cup, an All-Ireland competition to be held in Galway in a fortnight.

Royal School Armagh became the latest to advance to that competition on Wednesday, seeing off Omagh Academy 2-0 in the Ulster decider.

CRESCENT: A McNamara (GK), C Moloney, G Kinevane (capt), T Lyons, K Flinn, O Hickey, O Donworth, C Nolan, R Upton, C O’Sullivan, L O’Kane, L Barrett, G Fleming, O Joyce, K Fitzgerald, E McManus, K McGrath, A McMahon.

MOUNT MERCY: S Peters (GK), Y O’Byrne (capt), C Lucey, Emily O’Leary, Elisa O’Leary, K O’Herlihy, C Mullane, S Browner, J Murphy, A Moore, G Kelleher, A O’Donovan.

The Crescent team which advanced to the MSSC final. Picture: Pat Sargent

Crescent had just about shaded an engrossing period of normal time, but couldn’t find a way past an inspired Ciara Randles in the Scoil Mhuire goal, who got her angles right all day and kept her side in the game at crucial times.

But Upton – who has taken brilliantly to top-level club hockey with Catholic Institute this term – produced a sumptuous high drag in extra-time, and her side held on for a place in the decider against Mount Mercy, who saw off Laurel Hill Coláiste by the same scoreline on Tuesday.

CRESCENT: Aoife McNamara (GK), Ciara Moloney, Geena Kinevane (capt), Tara Lyons, Katie Flinn, Orla Hockey, Orla Donworth, Ciara Nolan, Eimear McGrath, Roisin Upton, Ciara O’Sullivan, Laura O’Kane, Lisa Barrett, Georgia Fleming, Orla Joyce, Karen Fitzgerald. Coach: Ollie O’Connor

SCOIL MHUIRE: Ciara Randles (GK), Megan O’Riordan, Lauragh O’Neill, Amy Kate Trevor, Vivienne Murphy, Jean Hayes, Emer Murphy (capt), Jill Kelleher, Emily Reilly, Emma Dobson, Sarah Bergin, Rachel O’Hanlon, Iseult Harding, Roisin O’Dwyer, Gene Hamil. Coach: Dave Egner

A ninth-minute penalty stroke, converted by influential skipper Yvonne O’Byrne, was all that separated the sides, and Mount Mercy will now meet the winner of Friday’s other semi-final, between Crescent and Scoil Mhuire, in the final.

The Laurel Hill side that lost to Mount Mercy. Pictures courtesy of Finbarr Kelleher

Eimear Cregan’s Laurel Hill had the better of the opening exchanges, without ever applying a finishing touch, and then were unlucky to conceded a stroke at the other end, awarded during a goalmouth melee after Naomi Flanagan had made a fine save.

O’Byrne did the necessary from the flick spot, and the hosts’ defence held firm to take that lead into half-time, weathering the sole corner of the half.

Sophie Haugh was unfortunate not to level things up, deflecting just wide on one occasion before seeing her cross-shot miss the far post.

Mount Mercy won the corner count three-nil in the second half, with Jennifer Murphy and Allyson Moore impressing, and although Laurel Hill threatened on the break – and laid siege to the hosts’ goal in the final minutes – they couldn’t find a way through.

MOUNT MERCY: Susan Peters (GK), Yvonne O’Byrne (capt), Ciara Lucey, Emily O’Leary, Elisa O’Leary, Kate O’Herlihy, Ciara Mullane, Sarah Browner, Jennifer Murphy, Allyson Moore, Grace Kelleher, Aoibheann O’Donovan. Coach: Darren Collins

LAUREL HILL COLAISTE: Naomi Flanagan (GK), Sorcha Carey (capt), Emma Sherlock, Shelly Forde, Caroline Heghan, Rebecca Barry, Ciannait Barry, Kate Mullane, Aisling Nash, Nina Corbett, Rachel Clarke, Sophie Haugh, Ellen Horgan, Adele Hannon, Nicola Deggan, Grainne Leonard, Clodagh Green, Chloe Ryan, Siobhan Hogan. Coach: Eimear Cregan

The ShutOutSchool (SOS) is a goalkeeping academy established by David Williamson and Ireland men’s number one David Harte, with the aim of raising the level of Irish goalkeeping.

Speaking about the SOS, David Harte said: “I am well aware of how important specialised GK coaching is, and especially how little there is available. I was and still am lucky enough to have had great goalkeeping coaching and, without this pointing me in the right direction, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.

“This is why I am looking forward to giving back all those hours of goalkeeping coaching I was lucky enough to have. We aim to cater for all goalkeepers’ needs and wants with the SOS. This is an opportunity that should not be missed!”

Irish international and Cork native David Harte will return to his alma mater Bandon Grammar as part of the ShutOutSchool mid-term goalkeeping clinics.

Goalkeeping coaching is hard to come by both at school and club so one of SOS’ key goals is that participants will leave our events with the knowledge and confidence to coach themselves and those around them.

Our events aim to be fun and dynamic, utilising new and exciting techniques, training aids such as ball machines, rebound boards, deflection mats and more. Mid-term clinics take place at Banbridge (Feb 15), King’s Hospital in Dublin (Feb 17) and Bandon Grammar in west Cork (Feb 19) at a cost of: €40/£40.

For coaches, there will be an opportunity for you to observe and learn from the clinicians throughout the day for a fee of €20 or £20. You will be able to observe, take drills down and may be asked to join in with the coaching too.

To register email info@shutoutschool.com with the following information: venue/gender/age/t-shirt size/school/club. Registration will be at 9.45am sharp on each clinic day, which will run from 10am-4.30pm. Participants should bring their own lunch.

* For more information, click the image on the right or go to www.shutoutschool.com.

They will now face Scoil Mhuire in the last four, after Emma Dobson’s 52nd-minute strike – coming after a superb run from in-form Iseult Harding – enough for them to sneak past Ursulines Thurles earlier today.

On the other side of the draw, Mount Mercy were in ruthless form in their 4-0 dismissal of Midleton, with Cork Harlequins senior Jennifer Murphy among their scorers. 2008 champions Laurel Hill Coláiste provide their opposition in the last four.

Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup quarter-finals: Bandon Grammar 0 Crescent 1; Midleton 0 Mount Mercy 4; Ursulines Thurles 0 Scoil Mhuire 1; Laurel Hill, a bye.

Semi-final draw: Crescent v Scoil Mhuire; Mount Mercy v Laurel Hill.