Sunday, March 8, 2009

Women's IHL: Round Four results

POOL A
Randalstown (Vanessa Surgeneor, Rebecca Dallas) Loreto 5 (Lizzie Colvin, Nikki Keegan, Cathy McKean, Ali Meeke, Zara Delaney)

Loreto all but qualified for the finals weekend of the IHL with their third bonus point win and have obtained 14 out of a possible 15 so far. The only way they can be eliminated is now on goal difference should they lose to Railway and Pegasus score a hatful in round five.

Quick starts have been a hallmark of the Beaufort side's success this term and they got into their stride early with Zara Delany (pictured, top left) netting her sixth of the competition. Nikki Keegan made it two four minutes later from the penalty spot.

After the sides between them amassed nine unconverted corners, Randalstown did sting Loreto before the break with Vanessa Surgeoner knocking in close-range.

Lizzie Colvin's reverse restored the advantage before Rebecca Dallas' drag-flick made it 3-2. Ali Meeke, though, made the three-quarter team-talk less fraught when she snapped up a rebound. And Cathy McKean secured the bonus point in the last quarter to take a commanding lead at the top of the group.

Cork C of I 0 Railway Union 2 (Jean McDonnell, Patricia O'Dwyer)
Railway eased by Cork C of I but may yet rue not taking more advantage of 13 penalty corners and a rake of chances. They left Cork without a bonus point which means they must better Pegasus' performance in round five against Loreto to guarantee a semi-final place.

Jean McDonnell scored from the third corner before setting up Patrica O'Dwyer - scoring a second senior goal since breaking into the Railway first team. O'Dwyer got a close-range touch on McDonnell's cross.

But C of I were more resolute in the second half and created some reasonable chances in the third quarter. But Railway pummelled the Garryduff goal in the closing ten minutes without reward, including one final effort being deflected over the bar by former international Deirdre Casey.

Belfast Harlequins 1 (Claire Coey) Pegasus 5 (Suzanne Beaney, Kristy McCollum 2, Hannah Clarke, Fiona McIlwaine)
Pegasus kept pace at the top of Pool A with their 5-1 win over city rivals Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park. Harlequins hit the front through Claire Coey, deflecting home their second corner in the 10th minute.

But the recently returned from injury Suzanne Beaney made it level by quarter-time before Kristy McCollum's double put Pegs firmly in control. Hannah Clarke sealed the bonus point before Fiona McIlwaine made it five inside the final quarter.

POOL B
Armagh 1 (Emma Thornbury) UCD 5 (Roisin Flinn, Lisa Jacob, Catriona McGilp 2, Liz McInerney)
UCD ran riot in the second half of their trip to Armagh to stay right in the mix for second place in Pool B. Roisin Flinn opened the scoring in the 22nd minute from the flick-spot but were pegged back by Emma Thornbury's deflection.

The second half, though, belonged to UCD who hit the front yet again when Lisa Jacob scored 15 seconds after the turnaround. Catriona McGlip made it 3-1, finishing off a goal-mouth scramble before confirming the bonus point with her second of the day in the final quarter.

Liz McInerney completed the rout on the final hooter with a bashed penalty corner.

Ballymoney 4 (Nicky McCaughran 2, Bridget McKeever, Susie Martin) Pembroke Wanderers 2 (Alice Ward, Aoife O'Gorman)
Ballymoney moved ahead of Cork Harlequins into second place in the group with their 4-2 win over Pembroke. Two good corners had them 2-0 up thanks to Nicky McCaughran's deflection and Bridget McKeever's straight strike.

Aoife O'Gorman (pictured, right) pulled one back from another corner and Alex schoolgirl Alice Ward equalised matters in the 38th minute. But Money finished the stronger with two goals in three minutes at the back end of the third quarter. Susie Martin's corner strike restored an advantage before her free-in was deflected in by McCaughran.
It ends Pembroke's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals while advancing Ballymoney's claims.

Hermes 3 (Jenny Burke 2, Aoife Harte) Cork Harlequins 0
All-Ireland champions Hermes became the first side in IHL history to guarantee their passage into the finals weekend as they swept past Cork Harlequins 3-0, thanks to Jenny Burke's brace either side of Aoife Harte's goal.

They lead the group by four points and need just a bonus point to go through in first place while Harlequins drop from second to fourth and will need a good win over Armagh at Farmer's Cross to stay alive in the IHL.

* For Deryck Vincent's pictures from the Hermes vs Cork Harlequins' game, click here

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

ucd's last goal was scored by Liz McInerney...great strike from a corner

Anonymous said...

Think Hermes will struggle . Have some older heads but too many young inexperienced players. Cork H. will start the rot and Railway will beat them on Paddies Day. Railers for the League.Railers best team in country.

Anonymous said...

Catriona McGilp scored one for ucd, Liz McInerney scored the other.

Anonymous said...

pembroke had a perfectly legal goal disallowed, if they'd gotten that they woulda pulled back to 4 all...

Anonymous said...

Rosie Carrigan scored UCD's third goal...

Anonymous said...

so much for hermes struggling today!!!??

Anonymous said...

Railway are definately the best team in the leinster league this season but I think it's a bit much to say they're the best team in the country.Hermes have plenty of experience in cup finals and their younger players are far from inexperienced.Think they will give Railway a good run for their money on Paddys Day.

Anonymous said...

form goes out the window on Cup Final Day...so nobody cares about league positions

Anonymous said...

"Railers best team in country." How that claim can be made when they have yet to win an Irish title let alone secure a spot in the semi-finals is beyond me. Typical cockiness... Important to remember that pride often comes before a fall.. Possibly even more important to try save that pride for when you've actually won something. (Please note that I'm not begrudging Railway anything... if they do succeed, fair play to them.)

Anonymous said...

Any more photos from the loreto and pembroke games??

Stephen Findlater said...

You can find a few of them here:
http://www.irishhockeyleague.ie/gallery.asp?id=26

Anonymous said...

young inexperienced players...? I think that is completely the wrong word, if any it should be the talent of these young players. Whatever railway have to say about hermes inexpeirence, they should keep it for the pitch on Paddy's day and then they may comment about hermes 'young inexperienced players' HERMES FOR THE LEINSTER CUP

Anonymous said...

it is so clear that the people leaving these comments play for neither team. How about you all just leave it for the pitch and wait until the final to see who comes out on top? Either way I'm sure it will be a great game.