UCC set up explosive double header
April 8, 2010
Written by Alan Good, in Club, Latest Stories, News
UCC established themselves as the slightest of favourites for the Munster Senior League women’s title by defeating Bandon 4-0 in the first match on the new Mardyke pitch last night.
The venue has been out of action since it was decimated by November’s floods, but having been tested out with a couple of practice matches over Easter weekend, the new water-base pitch saw its first serious bout of action on a dry, calm evening.
And Paidi Hartnett and Denis Pritchard’s troops ensured College got off to a winning start at their revamped home, with a routine victory against a Bandon side playing their last league fixture and knowing they would finish fifth in the table no matter what the outcome.
Fiona O'Connell and Olivia Roycroft hit all of UCC's goals in their 4-0 defeat of Bandon in the first game at the new Mardyke pitch. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell
Eddie Kirwan’s side are often a bogey team for the league’s top four, but College settled any nerves by scoring inside 30 seconds, when Ali O’Connor’s free from the right came all the way through to Fiona O’Connell, who swept home first time.
She then beat Bandon netminder Eimear White for a second time on 11 minutes, robbing Ali Kingston off a sloppy Bandon hit-out and rifling home for 2-0.
College sparingly used Irish internationals Julia O’Halloran and Audrey O’Flynn, who was hurt when slipping while executing a drag-flick, allowing Olivia Roycroft to take the limelight against her former club.
The former Ireland U18 international found the bottom corner with a low drag-flick to kill the game as a contest before half-time, before getting to the back post to tap in after the break, following good work from Miriam Crowley and Ali O’Regan.
That win leaves College five points clear of nearest rivals Catholic Institute and Cork Harlequins at the summit, though the latter have a game in hand.
It sets up an intriguing final few weeks, with endless permutations; that begins with a Quins vs UCC double-header this weekend, with high noon starts at Farmer’s Cross on Saturday and the Mardyke 24 hours later.
Quins will go into those encounters as favourites, having routed College 4-1 in the Munster Senior Cup semi-final last month, and having dropped four points this season – to UCC’s two – their need is certainly greater.
But the students will be determined to finally end Eddie Gash’s side’s 14-year stranglehold on the title, having come so close last term. And they know that two wins here will secure the title for them.
Crucially for both sides, each will have their internationals available despite the upcoming World Cup qualifier in Chile. O’Flynn and O’Halloran will line out for UCC, while Cliodhna Sargent will skipper Quins.
Both sides will therefore be targeting these encounters, given both must face Catholic Institute – who also have their eyes on the big prize – later in the month, minus their star players.
Institute will be without Eimear Cregan for those encounters, but should have the talismanic Irish international skipper in harness for C of I’s visit to Rosbrien on Sunday.
Defeat for Phil Oakley’s side will mathematically end their title hopes, and having been turned over by Institute on their home patch earlier in the season, C of I will be keen to make amends here.
International team-mates Eimear Cregan and Cliodhna Sargent won't feature in Quins and Institute's potentially pivotal battle. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell
Should they eke out a win, C of I would be in a favourable position, as they face an Ashton side with nothing to play for but pride home and away in their final two games. They would then be hoping for Quins and UCC to split the points one way or another in their two encounters.
Meanwhile, C of I can wrap up the men’s league this Saturday, but must negotiate a tricky trip to Bandon. The west Cork men have confirmed their presence in the IHL wildcard playoffs at the expense of UCC, but still have plenty to play for as they can still mathematically overhaul Quins for second place.
Quins take on Catholic Institute – who are scrapping with C of I B and Quins B to avoid the wooden spoon – at Farmer’s Cross, knowing they must win their remaining three games and hope for a C of I slip-up.
C of I B’s confidence took a major hit on Easter Monday, when they were amazingly dumped out of the Munster Junior Cup – of which they are holders – by Limerick A.
The Treaty city club’s two teams have had a magnificent season in cup competition – they have also reached the finals of the Irish Hockey Challenge and the Barber and McLean cups – and they have continued to upset the odds.
Home advantage at Villiers was a significant boon, but things were looking down when C of I opened the scoring. However, Matthieu Pienart’s exquisite pass found Amir Khan for the equaliser, before veteran Robbie Ryan gave them the lead with a bullet shot.
C of I recovered to lead 3-2, only for Ryan to again rescue his side from a short corner to force extra-time, and William Langford’s save in the sudden-death penalty shootout saw Limerick advance to a final meeting with Quins B later this month.
There was some joy for C of I’s thirds team though, as a 7-3 midweek win over Bandon B ensured they are winners of Division Two.
Saturday, April 10
Men’s Div 1:Bandon vs C of I A (Bandon GS, 1.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Catholic Institute (Harlequin Park, 2pm);
Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs UCC (Harlequin Park, 12pm)
Sunday, April 11
Women’s Div 1: UCC vs Cork Harlequins (Mardyke, 12pm); Catholic Institute vs C of I (Rosbrien, 12.30pm)
Women’s Div 4 Cup final: Limerick vs Tipperary (Rosbrien, 4.15pm)
Women’s Div 6: Cork Harlequins vs Cork C of I (Harlequin Park, 1.30pm)
Barber Cup final: Limerick B v UCC C (Rosbrien, 2.15pm)
Quins v Cath Inst is on in Farmers Cross, as Cath Inst failed to travel to Quins last year. 2pm hit off
for the limerick and c of i B match. i’m fairly sure limerick were leading 3-2.
Well done Quins ladies and their coach Eddie. You have all of Munster against you so lets hope you have a good game tomorrow.
C of I b beat cath inst 4-3 in mens div 1 on the Saturday of the easter bank holiday.
Why did the new watering system fail? i took ages for them to get the pitch watered. Sorry but not good enought bandon should have gone home and claimed the points.
Pitch should not be in that place as when it rained last week the river level was a bit high and if it had rained for another day flooding could have happenend. A waste of tax payers money would have happened, again.
to anon April 12, 2010 at 6:10 am:
1) It’s not a new watering system (It was in place with the old pitch)
2) The watering system didn’t fail it was the trip switch.
3) The game was delayed by 15 min (How could Bandon be within their right to go home and take points with a fifteen min delay??)
4) It is very unlikely that the floods of the same magnitude will occur again.
it wasn’t mentioned that limerick had a goal disallowed in golden goal extra time.
A few observations:
1. I know Quins did not have the whole of Munster against them, bit of a generalisation. Fair play to Ed and the girls.
2. The Mardyke did not flood because of the river overflowing into it, it was due to drain issues. It’s not as if the river came over the wall.
3. How do we know it is unlikely we won’t get those floods again? Can I borrow your crystal ball please?
Also, thanks to Bandon who didn’t complain about the short delay.
April 10, 2010 at 9:23 pm………what do you mean by all of Munster is against Quins??
Was at the Quins UCC game on Saturday; UCC could have lost 4nil….But thought the quin’s goal shouldn’t have been allowed. that would have made things look a little different in the league table today…..pity.
Oh, I notice that C of I won the mens league following a very hard fought win at Bandon.
Thats a load of rubbish about all of Munster being against Quins ladies. Yes I think every club in Munster would like to see another club win the league this season as it can only but be a good thing for Munster Hockey.
All other clubs have nothing but the greatest respect for Quins Ladies and for what they have achieved in Munster. They have set the standards for every other club to follow and its only now 14 years later that they are finally being put under pressure and battling for the league.
The UCC ladies vs Quins game on the Saturday was a poor encounter, I was disappointed by both sides but it was a game that Quins never looked like losing. Experience be damned, the passion from Quins had them chasing and making tackles that UCC just couldnt be bothered with on the day, some players playing as if their mind was on ensuring their hair wasn’t tousled by any sudden movements.
The following day’s game at 2-2 sounds like a much better performance from the UCC camp but it’s probably too late now.I hope the anon poster above was in better humour after sundays game anyway.
Congrats to Limerick also on beating their bogey team from this season the UCC 3′s.
In response to anon on April 12, 2010 at 3:33 pm
1) I fully agree that all of munster arent against quins. Im UCC through and through but Quins have been awesome all season, educational to watch them play, great mix of experience and exciting young players. And a very nice club in all dealings with them as well. Hope they win the IHL and may the best team win the most exciting league in a decade.
2)The Lee 100% did come in over the wall. I have aerial photos to show the scale of the devastation and we sent a Christmas card to every club in Munster (I hope! Plenty left if anyone wants one!) with one of the photos on the cover as a thank you to them for their assistance while we scrambled to maintain our club, and just to get out the word of how incedible the scale of the flooding was. Its impossible to see where the river ends and where Cork, let alone the Mardyke, begins in the photos. I went to the Dyke at high tide the night before praying the level wouldnt rise any further. If I was standing at the same spot a few hours later after the dam was opened up more, em, wouldnt be here to write this now!
In response to another comment, I didnt realise about the watering issue prior to the Bandon game, I was five mins late getting to it. Sorry Bandon, and thanks to them for playing the first match back at our home, it meant a lot to us to be back at all in the same season.
Looking forward to an exciting conclusion to the Ladies league from here..
Conor – good to see ye back playing on your own pitch but very surprised that they’ve re-laid it in the Mardyke. Is there not other UCC sports grounds, higher grounds where it could have been laid.. just worried that we’ll have similar weather in the next few years & ye’d be back to square one, not to mind the cost to the taxpayer….
Hopefully that won’t happen – best of luck with it – looking forward to seeing it next season..