In a match reminiscent of Corinthian's epic Mills Cup win in 2005, the reds survived a stunning quarter-final against Glenanne to advance to a semi-final date with YMCA.Never ahead in the game, they eventually prevailed after a marathon penalty stroke competition with Rowland Rixon-Fuller potting the vital goal to complete an incredible 8-7 tally after nine rounds of flicks.
The Glens, in the antithesis of their game with Pembroke last week, will rue not being able to hold onto a lead as Stephen Butler's corner and Graham Shaw's controlled reverse after a nice move had them 2-0 up.
Rixon-Fuller picked off a mistake in the Tallaght-side's defence to give his side a chance but it was not until the 67th minute that player-coach John McInroy (pictured) bagged the equaliser - created and finished by the South African, he cracked the ball right into the top corner, forcing extra-time.
Johnny Kane rebounded after Graham Shaw's shot was well saved by Ross Murray to once again give Glenanne the advantage in the extra period but Darren Kimfley struck a peach a mere minute later to ensure strokes.
The first series of five ended 4-4 and three rounds of sudden-death still could not spilt the teams before Alan Browne was denied by Murray and Rixon-Fuller took the chance.
On the other side of the draw, Pembroke, resting a number of their international stars from the past and present, completed the semi-final line-up with a comfortable 9-0 win over Clontarf.
Alan Sothern did play and netted a hat-trick while Maurice Elliott continued his good form with a brace.
Saturday afternoon, meanwhile, saw Monkstown solidify their place in the top four with a comfortable 3-0 win over UCD. Gareth Watkins got a pair with Ian Allen on target, too.
Results:
Mills Cup (quarter-final): Glenanne 3 (Stephen Butler, Graham Shaw, Jonathon Kane) Corinthian 3 (Rowland Rixon-Fuller, John McInroy, Darren Kimfley) Corinthian win 8-7 on strokes; Clontarf 0 Pembroke 9 (Alan Sothern 3, Maurice Elliott 2, Paddy Conlon, Florian Richter, Conor Harte, AN Other)
Divison One: UCD 0 Monkstown 3 (Gareth Watkins 2, Ian Allen)
Reality check for Clontarf today. Whilst Pembroke are a strong squad it proves that Clontarf will have to add to their squad/first xi to compete consistantly in div 1. They also shipped 7 goals to Fingal in a friendly during the week. Hats off to them for dominating div 2 with such ease and good hockey but it shows the gap between the 2 divisions.
ReplyDeletePembroke vs Corinthians nailed on Final...are both semis in same venue next Sunday does anybody know??
ReplyDeletey john John McInroy didint get selected for seniour leinster i do not no!
ReplyDeletebd
ye both are in rovers next sunday. Ye really shows the gap between 1st and 2nd division, Pembroke didnt even have a full team out.
ReplyDeletedoes show a difference in class but even without gormley, lewis, sheriff, elliott there's still more than enough in that side to do some damage...
ReplyDeleteinteresting choice of glens to play graham shaw and butler - shaw played neville cup too so can only play a max of 12 league games this year
I don't think john mcinroy would get selected ahead of watkins,sothern,darling,blakeney or phelie.All considerably better players and all available for Irish selection which is what the interpros is about at the end of the day
ReplyDeleteare the interpros really for selecting irish teams anymore? you'd hope irish selection would be based on something a bit more sustained than two games within a couple of days.
ReplyDeletethe coaching net should surely have caught and analysed all players before a one-off, two-day tournament.
the regional training panels and increased IHL-level matches mean its easier to see a players standard now, too.
as such, the tournament seems to be diminished in value for selection purposes.
Are the womens leinster cup semis in Three rock next week also - now that would be clever.. but knowing leinster hockey probably not !!
ReplyDeleteWell done the reds... vintage stuff should be a good weekend of hockey to come !
ReplyDeletegreat to see Rixi back to full fitness and scoring after that knee injury.. Good man !!
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ReplyDeleteOnce again, being an independent observer, 8 of the Corinthian Team starting team are Irish...that was the way it was on Saturday anyway with maybe 7 starting on Sunday against Glenanne...every club right now in Div 1 have one if not more foreign players/managers in their squads... if there are young lads coming through from lower teams in any club, surely they should benefit from playing with experienced players??...usually players who have international caps...
ReplyDeleteThe last Irish Mens coach was English, the current one is South African, with an assistant coach also being South African...
So "anonymous", if that is your real name, stop making stupid comments about names and back up your arguments with facts and proof and stick to what this blog was set up to do...talk about hockey in a sensible and adult way...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWell done Stephen for removing those comments disgraceful.. People should wake up and see Irish Hockey for what it is a talented bunch of amateur, dedicated sports people playing the sport the love, shame on you who look at it beyond that.
ReplyDeleteIt should be a good day of hockey next Sunday
ReplyDeleteThere are merits to both sides of the arguement here. I do agree that the standard of hockey is bettered by the presence of foreign players.
ReplyDeleteHowever, to make things fair and equal(we are not a professional sport) I would suggest that a cap be introduced on foreign players which would also have to take into account residency issues.
It would be interesting to hear peoples opinions on this. Think it is a rule in certain sports already??
RE: "every club right now in Div 1 have one if not more foreign players/managers in their squads"
ReplyDeleteFingal have no foreign players, not sure but id doubt UCD have any foreign players, KK have no foreign players
UCD have a foreign(Dutch) coach
ReplyDeleteI wonder did Butler, Blakney, McConnell and others get similiar comments when they went to play for teams in leagues outside Ireland.
ReplyDeleteOne hopes they were welcomed for improving the overall standard of their respective leagues.
do TRR have any foreign players, i think they have a spanish guy at the club is he in the first 11
ReplyDeleteLucas Piccioli and Veran
ReplyDeletecorinthians corner teams seems lethal at the moment!!
ReplyDeleteucd man
It still amazes me ( and saddens me )to read comments referring to "foreign players" playing hockey in Ireland in 2009 --most of us buy food/clothes in foreign owned shops -- listen to "foreign" music-drink "foreign" beer --support a soccer team in the UK --many of us have family members working for multinationals here or abroad --millions of our people have emigrated to foreign countries --we are one of the smallest most open economies in the world and depend on "foreign" trade for our livelihoods --and will depend on "foreigners" to get us out of the mess we are in as an economy. Such comments about "foreign" players come from small minded, insecure people who have no appreciation for the fact that hockey is an international sport and country of origin is of no relevance --they are hockey players and are most welcome here and I would only hope that when any of our players go abroad that they too would be welcomed with open arms. The comments you removed are thankfully confined to a tiny minority who know no better and need to be pitied for their narrow perspective on the world --shame on them .
ReplyDeleteIn Belgium you are only permitted to have a max of 3 foreign players at your club.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephen - surely its time for another 'ask Ray O'Connor' slot?!
ReplyDeleteI really hope that those small minded people who makes these comments get the opportunity to travel outside of the Leinster area one day to experience world hockey and to understand that such racist comments are actually unique to Irish Hockey.. Its bloddly embaressing to read these..
ReplyDeleteI recall when bacchus and Trapper came to Ireland they had a huge amount of 'slur' thrown at them each week - but these people dont mind when we draw on the talents and the skills of such players as Miles Warren, Lucas, Bacchus , Rudi, Craig and Nateile Fulton etc etc. to Coach our national teams and senior teams.
bloodly disgrace.. and too embaressed to sign your name !
Grow up !!
From and Irish ( Female) hockey player who played school, college, and club hockey in Dublin for 20 years
Ive no problem with anonymous posts but, whats the story with people having a go at others leaving comments under anonymous and then they themselves dont put there names to there posts!?
ReplyDeleteKinda ironic
In response to 9:02, Ray will return tomorrow evening. We've decided to post the queries once a week with Tuesday the best day to give it due precendence.
ReplyDeleteThe section has received a great response so far.
Can you all get on with it… if you won't get off your backside and go and see how brilliant Hockey is played in the rest of the world? We need these players and coaches to show how it can be done?
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for the likes of Rudi and Miles we would be nowhere near as successful as a province in fairness,give these guys a break,they've raised the level of hockey in Leinster incredibly
ReplyDeleteJohn McInroy is doing some amazing stuff with the reds! He should have walked into the Leinster team. You need passion and goal scoring abilities in that team and he has plenty of it! Come on the reds!
ReplyDeleteconkers
John McInroy should definitely not be in the Leinster side. He has made Corinthian a more professional outfit but playing ability wise he falls behind alot of our local talent.
ReplyDeletewho is on the leinster squad ?
ReplyDeletepembroke 6 railway 0 in league game played tonight
ReplyDelete