League final shapes up to be provincial showdown

MEN'S HOCKEYTHE IRISH Hockey League final on May 6th will be an Ulster versus Leinster affair after Saturday's results in the final round of pool matches meant YMCA and Monkstown meet in next month's semi-finals, with Cookstown clinching their place in the last four against Lisnagarvey.

Banbridge, last season’s Irish Hockey League winners, were Saturday’s chief casualties. Their 4-0 defeat away to Glenanne, the Leinster champions’ first IHL win of the campaign, ended hopes of making it out of their pool. That loss meant Cookstown were through as Pool A winners, regardless of their result against Instonians, a 3-3 draw keeping their unbeaten run in the competition.

Monkstown, who were level on points and goal difference with Banbridge going into Saturday’s encounters, secured their qualification with a 4-1 victory over Cork Harlequins, with goals from Runar O’Moore, Andrew Ward and two from Richard Sykes securing them their first IHL semi-final place.

With Lisnagarvey already through from Pool B, YMCA needed a point from their game against Three Rock Rovers to join them. Their 5-1 win, Marcus Richardson and Jonny Bruton scoring two apiece, combined with Lisnagarvey’s draw with Pembroke Wanderers meant they not only qualify for the semi-finals but finish top on goal difference.

At Belfield yesterday Corinthian came from 2-0 down in normal time, Lloyd McLoughlin equalising two minutes from the end, to beat Cookstown on penalty strokes in the Irish Junior Cup final. Extra time failed to produce a golden goal winner, Corinthian taking the trophy with a 3-1 victory in the shoot-out in which Jakim Berndsen saved three strokes.