Cregan earns bonus point for Harlequins

WOMEN'S HOCKEY IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE:AFTER A thrilling conclusion to the final round of pool games on Saturday it is Hermes and Pegasus, between them winners of the last 11 All-Ireland club titles, and Loreto and Cork Harlequins who will meet in next month's semi-finals of the Irish Hockey League.

The day’s greatest drama took place in Cork where Munster champions Harlequins clinched the bonus point they needed in the final minute of their game against Armagh, Irish captain Eimear Cregan’s sublime solo effort giving her side a 4-1 victory.

Earlier goals from Cregan, Karen Bateman and Jennifer Murphy had put Harlequins 3-0 up after 35 minutes, but their hopes of a bonus point began to fade when Emma Stewart pulled a goal back for Armagh with 20 minutes to go.

Cregan’s intervention, though – from 40 yards out she began a run that took her past three Armagh players, before firing home from the top of the circle – lifted Harlequins above Ballymoney and UCD in to second place in the pool, a point clear of both teams.

Hermes’s 2-2 draw with Ballymoney at Belfield was enough to ensure they topped the pool, while UCD missed out on the bonus point that would have put them through when they failed to beat Pembroke Wanderers by three clear goals, Ciara McNestry and Fiona Braddish helping them to a 2-1 win.

In Pool A Pegasus pipped newly-crowned Leinster champions Railway Union to second place behind Loreto, but the Belfast side were given a scare by Church of Ireland who levelled through Michaela Mihailou after falling behind to an early Alex Speers’ goal. C of I goalkeeper Orla McCarthy frustrated the opposition with a string of saves, but a second half double from Claire McMahon broke her and C of I’s resistance.

Railway, playing at the same time, twice led against Loreto, Jean McDonnell scoring after three minutes before Nikki Symmons equalised with a drag flick just before half-time. Kate Dillon restored Railway’s lead early in the second half but Cathy McKean levelled again for Loreto, rounding Helen Stevenson to score after being set up by Nikki Keegan.

IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE – Pool A:Pegasus 3 (C McMahon 2, A Speers), Church of Ireland 1 (M Mihailou); Railway Union 2 (K Dillon, J McDonnell), Loreto 2 (C McKean, N Symmons); Randalstown 4 (R Winnington 3, V Surgeoner), Belfast Harlequins 4 (S Wilkinson 3, K Thornton). Pool B: Hermes 2 (S Sloan, N Evans), Ballymoney 2 (S Martin, M Frazer); Cork Harlequins 4 (E Cregan 2, K Bateman, J Murphy), Armagh 1 (E Stewart); Pembroke Wanderers 1 (L Moore), UCD 2 (C McNestry, F Braddish).