Cork Harlequins hold nerve to win on penalty strokes

DIGEST:There was a delicious sense of justice to Cork Harlequins' victory in the European Cup Winners Trophy in Prague. After missing out on European success on penalty strokes in 2003, they beat Ukrainian side Kolos Sekoia 4-1 on strokes in a thrilling game that saw the lead change hands three times and ended 3-3.

Dave Eakins scored two minutes in, netting a penalty corner, but Quins trailed by a goal at half-time.

Eakins again capitalised from a penalty corner after the break, and with 15 minutes left, David Egner laid on for Paul Lombard to regain the lead.

Harlequins were pegged back one again, a diving deflection sending the game into extra-time and ultimately penalties.

As Harlequins held their nerve, Sekoia crumbled. SeáNicholson scored the decisive flick after the Ukrainians missed their second and third penalties to set off the celebrations.

Harlequins' win means Ireland take maximum points from the tournament to go toward next season's revamped EuroHockey league. The points decide the number of Irish entrants in the new Champions League-style competition, which kicks off next November.

As it stands, Ireland will be granted one entrant in the premier competition and one in a second-tier competition, but if Pembroke can produce a strong showing in the Club Champions cup, this situation could improve.

Elsewhere, Ireland completed their series of four matches with a 4-1 defeat against world champions Germany in Mönchengladbach.

Ireland competed well but good build-up play produced little end product beyond a John Jermyn drag flick.

Ciarán Power took arguably his strongest international result in two years when he finished fourth in the 1.1-ranked Rund um Köln in Germany yesterday, writes Shane Stokes.

The Navigators Insurance man came home just behind three highly regarded sprinters: Juan Jose Haedo (Team CSC), Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Alessandro Petacchi (Milram).

Power returned to racing early last year after an operation to correct a blood-flow problem. Having got some good racing kilometres into his legs in 2006, the Waterford cyclist has been riding very strongly this season.

At home, Brian Kenneally (Myhome.ie/Dunboyne CC) fought off the challenge of Paddy Moriarty (Diamond T) on the final stage to win the Rás Mumhan in Killorglin.

Last year's overall winner, Paul Healion, outsprinted Ciarán Cassidy and Derek Burke to win the stage.

Elsewhere, Denis Dunworth (Killorglin Credit Union CC) won the Gorey Three-day and Tom Murray won the Tour of the North.