Monkstown became the first women’s side to have a confirmed semi-final spot in the women’s EYHL Division 2 finals weekend with Ards within touching distance of joining them following their respective wins over the weekend.
For Town, they won well at Queens on Saturday 4-1 with two goals from Emily Kealy to make it seven wins from seven thus far and put 20 points between them and the Ulster club.
It has now opened up the battle for the remaining playoff places from this group with Lurgan leaping ahead of Cork C of I thanks to a 3-1 success in NUIG.
Jo-Anne Reid, Chloe McBride and Leanne Thompson got the Lurgan goals with a nice corner switch from Freddie Timmins giving NUIG their goal.
Lurgan (14 points) face Queens (15) next week while C of I (12) return to action at Dangan against NUIG, leaving lots to play for in the closing rounds of this group.
In Group A, Ards are 10 points clear of Corinthian and have a strong goal difference off the back of their 5-0 victory at Trinity on Saturday with Zara Malseed getting a hat-trick.
They could advance without hitting a ball if Corinthian have any slip next week against UCC; otherwise, Ards need just a point from their last game against Galway on March 26th.
UCC strengthened their hold on a playoff place with a 7-2 win over Galway who battled hard but were without several regulars for the trip to the Mardyke due to Covid.
Nikki Barry set the ball rolling before Christina Dring and Lauren Ryan both scored twice each. The Cork club need a point from next week’s game against Corinthian to formally confirm their place in the playoffs.
On Sunday, Catholic Institute won their twice postponed Irish Senior Cup quarter-final against Banbridge where first quarter goals from Carroll, Clery and Hannah Kelly set them on their way to a 5-0 success. They will face UCD on March 27th in the final four.
In the Irish Junior Cup, Corinthian advanced to meet holders Pembroke in the decider following their respective wins over Railway Union and Queen’s.
Women’s EYHL Division 2
Pool 1: Trinity 0 Ards 5 (Z Malseed 3, E Robinson, C Adams); UCC 7 (C Dring 2, L Ryan 2, A O’Mahony, E O’Sullivan, N Barry) Galway 2 (A Manley, A McDonnell)
Pool 2: NUIG 1 (F Timmins) Lurgan 3 (J-A Reid, C McBride, L Thompson); Queens University 1 (S McDowell) Monkstown 4 (E Kealy 2, R Carthy, C Watkins)
Irish Senior Cup, quarter-final: Banbridge 0 Catholic Institute 5 (N Carroll, L Clery, H Kelly, J Clein, C O’Shea)
Irish Junior Cup – Semi-Finals: Corinthian II 4 Railway Union II 2; Pembroke II 3 Queens University II 1
Monkstown’s Emily Kealy. Pic: Deryck Vincent