Sam Judge blasted home the winner eight minutes from time, after Lisa Jacob’s sublime deflection had cancelled out Ali Bell’s opener for the Scots.

Ireland required just a draw after defeating France 3-2 amid torrential rain that caused a stoppage of play for half an hour, thanks to Michelle Harvey’s drag-flick double.

C of I's Amy Kate Trevor goes high to get past the challenge of Quins' Yvonne O'Byrne. Picture: Ondine Roche

But they couldn’t finish the job against the Scots, who are seeded below Ireland next month. Irish coach Gene Muller must now hope his walking wounded, including skipper Eimear Cregan (ankle), Niamh Small (hamstring) and Audrey O’Flynn (hand), won’t face lengthy layoffs.

Domestically, Catholic Institute and Fermoy took the spoils on a fine weekend for Munster in national competition.

Goals from Rosie Pratt, Naomi Carroll and Elaine Bromell helped Institute notch a 3-2, Irish Trophy semi-final win at Portadown, and keep alive their hopes of bringing home a national trophy in their centenary year.

Galway’s Greenfields will provide the opposition in the decider, after their golden goal, 1-0 win at Wexford, where Institute will be keen to avenge a 2-1 loss to Ulster Elks in last year’s final.

Fermoy also raided Ulster in some style, as Ann Galvin and Natalie Keniry’s goals have the Division Three champs a 2-1 win at Raphoe in the last four of the Irish Challenge

The north Cork outfit also have unfinished business to attend to – they will face YMCA in the final for the second year running, having lost out to the Dubliners on strokes last season.

Cork Harlequins have moved top of the Munster women’s league on goal difference, but will be concerned that they dropped a point in a 1-1 draw with Cork C of I at Garryduff.

Leslie Ann Daunt took a pass in her stride before rifling home the opener on 10 minutes, only for C of I to draw level when Grace Young’s superb deflection went in off the post in the middle of the first half.

The battle of the Sineads, as Quins' McCarthy and C of I's Connery tussle for possession. Picture: Ondine Roche

However, what followed was a poor encounter; the usual dominance of Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman in the attacking third was strangely missing, with C of I’s Sinead Connery dominating this area, but neither side possessed the quality to create many true openings.

The best of those fell to C of I’s Rebecca Sweetnam, who saw a hopeful cross come all the way to her all alone at the right of the circle, but she shot straight at Amy O’Neill and couldn’t get a good connection on the rebound.

Quins went on to rout Ashton 6-2 on Sunday, with Bateman lashing in a double while youngsters Acacia Taylor and Leanne Mullins were both on the scoresheet.

Five points from a possible six seems a reasonable return for a weekend’s work, but UCC will be the happiest side after the weekend’s games.

At this stage of the season, points dropped rather than those accrued is the vital statistic, and College have only left two points behind them thus far, compared to Quins (four), C of I (six) and Institute (seven).

However, the students also face the toughest run-in as the season reaches its crucial stage – they have yet to play Quins either home and away, and must travel to Rosbrien to face Institute.

Meanwhile, Bandon consolidated their top-flight status with a 5-0 thrashing of Waterford, who are not yet mathematically safe from the threat of the drop themselves, though UL must win at least two of their final three encounters to avoid finishing bottom of the pile.

To view the full set of Ondine Roche’s pictures from C of I vs Quins, click here

C of I's Nick Burns charges away from Glenanne's Stephen Butler. Picture: Adrian Boehm

The Tallaght outfit were three goals to the good and out of sight by the end of the first quarter, as the hosts simply couldn’t live with their superior speed of thought and movement.

C of I coach Stephen Jackson nonetheless remains philosophical, knowing that half his side is still under 21, and they will learn from days like this.

While recent international retirees Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw commanded most of the pre-match attention, it was some of Glens’ lesser lights who hogged the headlines.

Gary Shaw has been in ruthless form of late – his last-quarter hat-trick helped Glens come back from the dead in the ISC against Corinthian seven days ago – and he gladly took on the role of torturer-in-chief for the visitors.

He picked out Mick McGuinness with a bullet cross that took out C of I keeper Billy Lynch on three minutes – the former Fingal man having plenty of time to trap and score into an exposed goal.

Brendan Parsons then made hay from a quick free on the left to set Eddie O’Malley free on nine minutes, and the striker forced the ball home at the second attempt.

C of I knew they had to score next to stand any chance of keeping the contest alive, but John Jermyn saw his first short corner attempt partially blocked by Joe Brennan, while Stephen Doran kept out a David Hobbs snap-shot.

Lynch made a truly stunning stick-save at the other end, keeping out a Paul Fitzpatrick thunderbolt, but he agonisingly then saw Butler’s 17th-minute drag-flick wriggle under him and over the line for three-zip.

Quins' Paul Lombard flicks home the winner past Monkstown's Andy Ewington and Eoin O'Connor, as David Lombard collides with the fence after supplying the assist. Picture: Adrian Boehm

O’Malley nudged a reverse lob just wide after tricking his way into the circle as Glens initially went for the jugular, while Doran matched Lynch’s stick-save heroics with an unbelievable stop to deny Jermyn.

Graham Shaw and Nick Burns both saw green, before Parsons rattled home Glenanne’s fourth on 30 minutes, finding the bottom corner after lovely interplay by David Keogh and Gary Shaw.

Lynch made yet another brilliant block, denying Gary Shaw’s rocket, though the latter really should have picked out Parsons, who was all alone at the back post and braying for the ball, instead.

The second half saw much less in the way of action, as Glens sat back knowing the job was all but done. Worryingly for C of I, David Hobbs was helped off with an ankle injury in the third quarter, and looked to be in some distress – it remains to be seen how serious the problem is.

The hosts did finally plunder a consolation in the 58th minute – an improvised 1-2 short corner move between Jermyn and Karl Burns eventually seeing Nick Burns slot home – but they never looked like getting a second, which would have denied Glens a bonus point.

With Lisnagarvey amazingly smashing seven past Three Rock Rovers without reply – including four Timmy Cockram drag-flicks -  and Cookstown getting the better of Annadale 3-1, C of I now need to beat ‘Garvey and Cookstown and hope for other results to go their way.

There was better news in the other pool for Cork Harlequins, who got themselves on the board in the IHL by coming from two goals down to defeat Monkstown 3-2 at Harlequin Park.

C of I's Andy Herbert tackles Glenanne's Graham Shaw. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Quins will be hoping this win proves to be something of a watershed, having endured a miserable campaign on the national front so far this term.

The meeting of two sides renowned for not making life easy for themselves was always going to produce some goals and fireworks, even if neither are likely to be challenging at the business end of the competition.

The visitors played plenty of pretty hockey and found space at will, but as has become a hallmark of theirs, also left gaps at the back too often.

Monkstown hit the front on six minutes as Andy Ewington roofed a drag-flick, and they had the better of the early chances, the livewire Frank Ryan rifling a reverse straight at Reinout Mensink from 10 yards after doing well to create space.

But they did eventually find a second in the 27th minute, when a searching long ball found skipper Gareth Watkins, and he fed Alec Barrett, who fired over the grounded Mensink from close range after his first effort was blocked.

‘Town appeared to be cruising as the break approached, but a flurry of corners amazingly helped Quins draw level with two goals in four minutes.

Glenanne's Jonathan Kane dives in to tackle C of I's David Hobbs. Picture: Adrian Boehm

The frustration of seeing Darren Farrell’s goal ruled out as the whistle was blown for a corner a second a moment before evaporated as Dan Hobbs zinged his drag-flick just inside David Fitzgerald’s right-hand post.

And after the half-time hooter, Mark Black touching in another Hobbs drag to send Quins into the break in chipper form.

The hosts came out far stronger in the second half, with David Egner and Paul Lombard cleverly creating space while Eddie Dore’s pace caused all sorts of problems.

The best chance of the half fell to Watkins though, as his side were awarded a 50th-minute penalty stroke after a Quins defender had stick-chopped Barrett as he shaped to fire a rebound into an open goal.

But Mensink guessed right and got down brilliantly to his right to deny Watkins from the flick spot, and Quins nearly made them pay seven minutes later, Egner deflecting narrowly wide off a John Hobbs switch-flick.

The winner did eventually arrive on 60 minutes; Ewington attempted a no-look pass to sweeper Nick Dee, only to play the ball straight to Dore.

The Kilkenny man turned Runar O’Moore inside out before finding David Lombard, who drew Fitzgerald before squaring for Paul Lombard to flick home.

Monkstown pressed for an equaliser, and saw their case helped by Farrell, who was needlessly yellow-carded for verbals after being initially pinged for not retreating five metres.

Quins' Eddie Dore gets a tackle in on Monkstown's Stephen Cole. Picture: Adrian Boehm

But Monkstown’s composure deserted them as they resorted to hopeful crash balls, which Quins’ 10 men comfortably dealt with.

Meanwhile, strikes from Amir Khan, Nathan Eacrett and Llewellyn Mooney sent Limerick into the final of the men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, as they comfortably dispatched Larne 3-0 at Villiers.

Limerick’s chances of going all the way received a major boost as the competition favourites, Campbellians, withdrew from the tournament in controversial circumstances.

Their semi-final opponents, St Brendan’s, insisted on playing the tie on their grass pitch at Phoenix Park. There are no regulations for IHA competitions which state a minimum stanard or type of surface, but Campbellians objected nonetheless, and gave the Dubliners a walkover.

It means Brendan’s – who feature Gaelic Players Association figurehead and former Dublin intercounty footballer Dessie Farrell among their ranks – will now contest their first national decider since 1974.

A huge thanks to Adrian Boehm, who drove from Dublin to photograph the Quins/C of I games in Cork. The full sets of his pictures from both games will on the Flickr site tomorrow (Sunday).

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 Irish were behind inside 20 seconds as the heavens opened on the Cote d’Azur, leading to a farcical opening goal on a water-logged pitch with French forward Charlotte Boyer nipping in to score.

Within a minute, the TD stepped in to suspend play for an hour. And Ireland started much the better, Michelle Harvey whipping home a drag-flick in the 5th minute.

Philippine Berly – well-known to many of the panel due to her time with the Ulster Elks – restored the lead for the French from a penalty corner as les bleus were in the ascendancy.

Ireland hung tough with Louisa Healy pulling off a couple of saves as Audrey O’Flynn made her exit with a hand injury.

The Irish bounced back from their second corner, Harvey’s strike deflected high into the net by Rachel Mulligan to make it 2-2 at half-time. And that corner threat eventually settled the tie as Harvey (pictured) shot the third of a series of corners low for the only goal of the second half.

Eimear Cregan (ankle) and Niamh Small (hamstring) picked up injuries, too, to make it a busy day for the physios but Ireland is now in pole-position to claim the reduced Celtic Cup, enjoying a rest day tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Scotland.

Speaking afterwards, Gene Muller said: “It was a nightmare start to the match for us but the players handled it very well. They showed good maturity to stick to the take in adversity. We clawed our way to a win in a difficult game.” Ireland play Scotland on Sunday at 10am (Irish time).

Ireland: Louisa Healy (Loreto); Roisin Flinn (Old Alex); Cliodhna Sargent (Cork Harlequins); Eimear Cregan (Catholic Institute); Emma Clarke (Leicester); Emma Stewart (Armagh); Bridget Cleland (Ballymoney); Shirley McCay (Dragons); Audrey O’Flynn (UCC); Alex Speers (Dragons); Rachel Mulligan (Armagh); Nikki Symmons (Loreto); Emma Smyth (Railway Union); Lizzie Colvin (Loreto); Lisa Jacob (UCD); Michelle Harvey (Pegasus)

Words: Stephen Findlater

Both sides are looking to make up ground on surprise Pool B leaders Lisnagarvey, with Ireland’s top two goalscorers of all time – Butler and C of I’s John Jermyn – going head to head from the top of the circle in what is set to be a crucial drag-flicking duel.

C of I coach Stephen Jackson is wary of the visitors’ greater experience, and will hope his fledgling defence can stand firm against the likes of Gary Shaw, who claimed a last-quarter hat-trick in the ISC win over Corinthian last week.

“They are a high-profile team who continue to have major successes in Irish competitions,” he said. “It will be a challenge for this (C of I’s) very young and developing group of players.”

C of I's Grace Young claimed a hat-trick against Waterford and will be hoping to do the same against Quins this weekend. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in the last eight of the Irish Senior Cup at Three Rock Rovers last weekend, ‘Garvey get an instant shot at redemption as the Dubliners visit Hillsborough. The Ulster derby between Annadale and Cookstown is the other clash in this pool.

In Pool A, Corinthian play their first IHL game on home turf against Banbridge, having taken five points from trips to Cork Harlequins and Monkstown, who meet at Farmer’s Cross needing a win to keep their interest alive.

Monkstown have been the side to watch this term in terms of value for money, with goals raining in at both ends, and Gareth Watkins, Runar O’Moore and drag-flicker Andy Ewington provide their primary threats.

Quins are still without fractured cheekbone victim Jason Black, but Mark Black is back in the mix after missing the 5-1 humbling at the hands of C of I a fortnight ago.

Colin Ross and keeper Chris Daunt are also continuing their rehabilitation after long-term injuries, and Ross is likely to see gametime here once more.

Elsewhere, pool leaders Pembroke Wanderers face something of a potential banana skin as they head to Belfast to attempt to down Instonians, who upset the holders in this fixture last term.

It’s a big day on the national stage for Limerick hockey too, with two sides vying for a place in a national final.

Catholic Institute’s women have taken well to the Irish Trophy, reaching the decider of the inaugural competition last year before losing out narrowly to Ulster Elks, and they’ll be keen to go one better in their centenary year.

They are in the last four this weekend, but must repeat their quarter-final heroics on the road at Knock as they face a long trek to Portadown.

Meanwhile, it’s been an excellent season for men’s hockey in Limerick, with the second team reaching two Munster cup finals while the firsts have blazed a trail in the Irish Challenge.

They have the advantage of home comforts against Larne in the semi-finals, and will again look to veteran former Irish international Robbie Ryan, Amir Khan, teen sensation Nathan Eacrett and Llewellyn Mooney to provide the goals.

Lee d'Alton and Quins will be hoping to get their IHL campaign back on track with a win over Monkstown. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Fermoy are the final Munster side in action in the last four of an Irish competition; the Division Three champs have to endure what must be on of the longest trips in Irish hockey, heading to Co Donegal for a tussle with Raphoe in the last four of the Irish Challenge.

Like Institute, Fermoy were beaten in the final last year so harbour a sense of unfinished business – particularly with vanquishers YMCA still in the shake-up on the other side of the draw.

Domestically, the visit of Quins to C of I dominates the agenda in the Munster women’s league.

The emergence of Institute and UCC as title challengers means this is no longer the blue riband, league-deciding fixture it once was, but a loss for either side could nonetheless prove potentially fatal to their title chances.

Quins will be favourites, having humbled the Rochestown outfit 4-1 on home turf earlier this season and are in a winning habit, having seen off  Institute, UCC and Ballymoney. However, they must again do without skipper Cliodhna Sargent, who is on Celtic Cup duty in France.

A win for C of I or a draw will send them top, while a Quins victory – plus another three points in their Sunday fixture against Ashton – could see them back at the summit.

Elsewhere, Bandon head to Waterford knowing the victor will be all but safe from the threat of relegation.

The sole men’s league game sees Bandon host Catholic Institute; the west Cork men will be keen to avenge a Munster Senior Cup semi-final defeat, and keep UCC at arm’s length as the race for an IHL wildcard playoff spot hots up.

Men’s Irish Hockey League Rd 3, Pool A: Corinthian vs Banbridge (Whitechurch, 2.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Monkstown (Harlequin Park, 4pm); Instonians vs Pembroke Wanderers (Shaws Bridge, 5.30pm); Pool B: Cork C of I vs Glenanne (Garryduff, 2pm); Cookstown vs Annadale (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Lisnagarvey vs Three Rock Rovers (Hillsborough, 4pm);

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: St Brendan’s vs Campbellians (TBC); Limerick vs Larne (Villiers, 2pm);

Men’s Div 1: Bandon vs Catholic Institute (Bandon GS, TBC);

Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy semi-finals: Wexford vs Greenfields (Enniscorthy, TBC); Portadown vs Catholic Institute (Edenfield, 2.30pm)

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Monkstown vs YMCA (Rathdown, 1.30pm); Raphoe vs Fermoy (Royal and Prior, 1pm);

Women’s Div 1: Cork C of I vs Cork Harlequins (Garryduff, 12pm); Bandon vs Waterford (Bandon GS, 12.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Ashton (Harlequin Park, Sunday, 12pm)

Graham Shaw (far left) and Stephen Butler (far right) celebrate with Glenanne club-mates Joe Brennan and Arul Anthoni after winning the EuroHockey Nations Trophy. Picture: Tristan Seaton-Stedham

While Butler in particular had previously indicated a desire to stay on to help Ireland attempt to reach the 2012 Olympics, the increasing commitment required for international hockey has seen both decide to bow out.

Midfielder-turned-sweeper Butler departs as Ireland’s most capped player of all time — making 163 appearances — and the country’s top goalscorer, with a remarkable 79 strikes since making his debut against Japan in 1999.

Shaw’s career in green was similarly chequered, the midfielder and Ireland vice-captain amassing 151 caps.

Butler said: “After lengthy discussions with family and close friends I have decided to draw a line under my international hockey career.

“This has been an extremely difficult decision for me and one that I have thought about carefully since the World Cup Qualifiers in Argentina.

“The commitment needed for international hockey is growing each year and I have decided after 11 years of commitment that it is time for me to focus on other aspects of my life.”

Shaw added that his decision was partly motivated by the desire to see some of the country’s younger talent brought on in his midst.

“Given the natural break in the international competition calendar, I believe that now is the right time to call an end to my international career,” said Shaw.

“There is a wealth of young talent coming through the system and it is essential that they are given the opportunity to experience hockey at the highest level while they have the time and energy to put that experience to good use.”

For more quotes and detail on this story and the careers of Butler and Shaw, click here.

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.

With a test series against Italy over Easter the last set of preparation matches for the trip to South America, a number of players will view this tournament as their final chance to convince national coach Gene Muller of their worth.

Chief among them is UCC skipper Audrey O’Flynn, who earned her first cap against Belgium earlier this year and is handed another chance to compete for a defensive berth in a squad that boasts an average of 63 caps.

Audrey O'Flynn (right) has a chance to prove her Irish credentials at this weekend's Celtic Cup. Picture: Ondine Roche

Cork Harlequins’ Cliodhna Sargent and Alex Speers – who is back with Pegasus after a stint with the Dragons in Belgium - return to the fold after missing last week’s uncapped three-game series with Great Britain through injury.

Muller must however do without UCC midfielder Julia O’Halloran, who misses out due to study commitments, but is confident the clashes with Scotland and France will provide him with some answers as regards the make-up of the squad for Chile.

“This will be a tough tournament and an ideal preparation event for us,” he said.

“We have had some very tough matches against Scotland in recent times, and France have improved to a level that sees them well prepared for their World Cup qualification event.

“We have not decided on a World Cup qualification team yet so this is a chance for players to stake a claim for the qualifiers in April.”

The Celtic Cup normally takes place during the summer months, but the tournament was brought forward three months to accommodate the World Cup qualifiers.

However, the competition will go ahead without Wales, who have mysteriously decided to withdraw from the competition.

Ireland’s primary concern at this tournament must surely be to get back on the goalscoring trail - they have lost all five of the games played in 2010, finding the net just once in the process.

Ireland women’s squad for Celtic Cup (Nice, France): M Goode (GK, Bray), L Healy (GK, Loreto); R Flinn (Old Alex), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), E Cregan (Catholic Institute), E Clarke (Leicester), E Stewart (Armagh), B Cleland (Ballymoney), S McCay (Dragons), A O’Flynn (UCC), A Speers (Pegasus), R Mulligan (Armagh), N Symmons (Loreto), E Smyth (Railway Union), L Colvin (Loreto), L Jacob (UCD), N Small (Loreto), M Harvey (Pegasus).
Friday: Ireland vs France (1pm Irish time); Sunday: Ireland vs Scotland (9am Irish time)

While Fermoy beat them by a week to claim the title of maiden league winners this term, Quins and their coach David Egner will be plenty satisfied with their work this campaign.

Their 3-1 away defeat of Ashton – coming thanks to strikes from Denise O’Connor, Orlagh Cotter and Fiona Higgins – combined with Belvedere’s 1-0 win over Catholic Institute at Rosbrien means Quins cannot be caught.

Kate Herbert has been a key presence in midfield for Quins in their title-winning Division Two campaign. Picture: Eoin Tyrrell

A number of success stories have emerged for the Farmer’s Cross outfit, namely the successful conversion of Kay Gaffney from a forward to a centre back, although the Kilkenny native remains the side’s top scorer with five goals.

Kate Herbert and Fiona Higgins have anchored the midfield, while Orlagh Cotter – an off-season signing from C of I – has been something of a revelation up front.

Quins have accrued 25 points from a possible 30 and have two games left, with Belvedere in second, five points behind but with just a single game remaining.

Institute and C of I, in fourth and third respectively, could usurp Belvedere from second place, but cannot catch Quins.

Nonetheless, Belvedere’s presence in the final shake-up has implications for the bottom three in Division One, should they elect to contest promotion.

They were relegated last year, but have put up a strong showing, handing Quins their sole defeat ot the season thanks to a superb showing from goalkeeper Debbi Cashman.

As the only Division Two side without a representative in Division One, a top-three placing gives them the right to request a challenge game against the team who finishes bottom of Division One.

UL, Ashton or Waterford will finish bottom of the top tier, with the Limerick students favourites to occupy that berth despite recording their maiden win of the campaign against the latter on Saturday.

At the other end of the Division Two table, it looks like a straight fight between Ashton and UCC to avoid relegation – though such an eventuality may not come to pass for either team.

The folding of Moyne/Thurles at the start of the campaign has left an uneven balance of seven teams in the division, and with Fermoy on their way up from Division Three, it is possible no team will go down.

Such a scenario would be welcomed by both clubs, who would not want to countenance the notion of a two-tier gap between their top two teams.

With both sides locked on six points, College currently have the advantage, as they have three games in hand over Ashton. But despite a run to the last eight of the Irish Junior Cup, the students have struggled to score in the league – zero wins from seven games and only three goals scored tells its own story.

Quins kept up their interest in nabbing the second qualification spot in Pool A by laying their Joey Dunlop Centre demons to rest with a 2-1 win over Ballymoney, thanks to strikes from Cliodhna Sargent and Rachel McSharry.

Much like last season, they now head into the final round with their destiny out of their hands. Last year, an Eimear Cregan stunner gave them a crucial bonus-point win over Armagh, before hearing after the whistle that other results had gone their way.

With Pembroke Wanderers winning 2-1 at home to Ards, Quins will be anxiously awaiting news from other grounds again on March 14. Pembroke are a point clear going into the final round, meaning Quins must better their result on the final day.

Rachel McSharry hit Quins' winner in their 2-1 win at Ballymoney. Picture: Adrian Boehm

If the permutations are straightforward, the reality may not be. Quins host Ards, who mathematically still have something to play for, while Pembroke go to Railway.

On paper, an upset looks unlikely in the all-Dublin clash, theoretically giving Quins an advantage, but Railway have already sealed qualification for the last four, and are guaranteed to top the pool, so may not be quite at full tilt.

Their coach Mick McKinnon has already shown a willingness to experiment; he confidently left Irish international and midfield fulcrum Emma Smyth out of his 16 for their visit to Cork C of I, even though Smyth made the trip south.

The visitors knew a win of any kind would see them become the first side to advance, and first-half goals from
Patricia O’Dwyer and Sinead Walsh did the job.

O’Dwyer’s came inside two minutes, her shot getting the faintest of touches off a C of I defender to divert past Orla McCarthy, who produced top-drawer saves from Jean McDonnell and Kate McKenna.

C of I awoke from their early slumber as Sinead Connery played in Claire Hickey, but she shot narrowly wide. With two minutes to half-time a mis-hit from Cecelia Joyce found its way to Sinead Walsh, who unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the circle to see Railway two up at the break.

The hosts threw caution to the wind in the second half, but Helen Stevenson was alert to block Connery’s shot to thwart a potential revival.

In Pool B, UCC’s challenge ended as Loreto recovered from an early setback to seal a fortuitous 2-1 win at Garryduff.

Boasting five internationals in their lineup has proved a mixed blessing for the Dubliners, as they rarely get to train with a full squad, and College took advantage of their early uncertainty.

The students had a rip-roaring start, taking the lead inside 90 seconds from their first short corner as Ali O’Connor’s straight hit found it’s way to the backboard. The hosts forced three more corners in the first five minutes, Audrey O’Flynn seeing a drag flick well saved by Louisa Healy.

Jason Lynch showed up well for Lisnagarvey, but it wasn't enough to prevent them falling to a 3-2 ISC defeat to Three Rock. Picture: Adrian Boehm

But Loreto survived seeing Nikki Keegan yellow carded to steadily get a foothold in the game, with Nikki Symmons, Cathy McKean and Aisling Campion beginning to dominate. Karen Olden was forced into two neat saves from Symmons, as Loreto plundered five first-half corners of their own.

College should nonetheless have doubled their lead on 27 minutes, when Ali O’Regan found Fiona O’Connell all on her own in the circle, but her first time shot was brilliantly turned around the post by Healy.

Loreto made UCC pay for that miss just before half time, when Nicci Daly turned the ball past Karen Olden off a fine cross from McKean.

Despite sharing 11 corners in the first half, neither side was able to take advantage, a trend which continued after the break as three more went begging for each side. UCC’s Olivia Roycroft saw yellow for not retreating, but chances were at a premium from open play.

Loreto then won the game with a sucker punch with four minutes remaining. A speculative ball from the right hit a College stick and diverted past Olden, the new own goal ruling proving the hosts’ undoing.

Hermes took  bonus point win from Randalstown, and now need just a draw from their final group game against Loreto to advance to the semi-finals. P{egasus are in the same boat after winning 3-1 against Old Alex.

Meanwhile, the two Munster women’s league games yielded eyebrow-raising results, with particular implications for Catholic Institute’s title challenge, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Bandon.

Jane O’Higgins gave the hosts an early lead, and Bandon dropped back into defensive mode thereafter, only for Rosie Pratt to eventually equalise.

Another good performance from Jenifer Hales wasn't enough to prevent C of I falling to a 2-0 defeat to Railway Union. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Institute were aggrieved to see what seemed a legitimate goal chalked off, but must make do with two points which puts them back to the top of the standings, though any of the three sides below them can overtake them if they win their games in hand.

However, the most heartening result of the day – unless you’re from Waterford – came at Newtown School, where University of Limerick claimed their first points of the season with a 2-1 win.

The Treaty City girls have endured a miserably campaign, having notched only one goal in nine games, but Doireann de Paor’s brace – in response to Eileen Guiry’s effort for Waterford – ensured they are finally off the mark in the league this term.

In men’s hockey, Quins were the weekend’s biggest winners, with Paul Lombard helping himself to four goals in an 8-2 rout of basement boys Catholic Institute that moves the Farmer’s Cross outfit back into second place.

C of I B won the battle of the second strings 3-1, Richie Dorman’s double the catalyst for their defeat of Quins B, while John Jermyn and David Hobbs both did likewise in C of I’s straightforward 5-0 defeat of UCC.

Limerick’s superb form on the national stage continued as they booked their place in the last four of the Irish Challenge with a 4-1 rout of Portrush at Villiers.

Veteran Robbie Ryan grabbed a grace, while teen starlet Nathan Eacrett – fresh from his six-goal haul against UCC in Division Two last weekend – and Amir Khan notched the others.

They will have home comforts again in the last four, against Larne, who were 2-1 winners against Smithfield.

In the Irish Senior Cup, a two-goal lead proved to be a dangerous one for both Corinthian and Lisnagarvey, who threw away advantages to crash out of the competition.

The former looked set to shock Glenanne, but Gary Shaw’s late double – which completed his hat-trick, gave Glens a 4-2 win, while Three Rock Rovers came back from the dead to oust Jason Lynch’s ‘Garvey side 3-2.

The other last eight ties were also close affairs, with Monkstown defeating Kilkeel by the odd goal in nine while Ian Hamilton’s double helped Annadale notch a priceless 2-1 win over Ulster rivals Banbridge.

The ‘Dale will fly the flag for Ulster in the semi-finals as they visit Monkstown, with Rovers and Glens dogging it out in an all-Leinster tie at Grange Road.

Additional reporting: Roger Gray, David Harvey, Andy Gray, Ali Smith, Steve Sweetnam