MEN'S HOCKEY:THE SUDDEN death of Church of Ireland player-coach Andy Chambers at Garryduff on Saturday overshadowed all hockey events at the weekend. The 31-year-old collapsing on the pitch just before his team's Irish Senior Cup game against Kilkeel.
Chambers, who took over as coach at the Cork club this season, succeeding Stephen Jackson, is survived by his partner and young child.
Unaware of the tragedy at Garryduff, the first round’s other seven games went ahead, with Ulster sides shading their match-ups with Leinster opponents.
A hat-trick from Timmy Cockram helped Lisnagarvey to a 5-2 win over Corinthian, Annadale beat Railway Union 2-0 and Cookstown defeated Pembroke Wanderers by the same score.
Monkstown and YMCA, however, overcame Ulster opposition. Two goals from Andy Ewington sent Monkstown on their way to a 3-0 defeat of Bangor, while a Scott Caruth hat-trick couldn’t save North Down from a 4-3 loss to YMCA.
Cork Harlequins, meanwhile, lost for the second week running to Banbridge, while Weston put seven past Suttonians in their all-Leinster clash.
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