Handy Andy’s treble takes Friends into McCullough Cup final

ANDREW Edgar bagged a hattrick as Friends beat Methodist College 3-1 to book their place in Wednesday’s McCullough Cup final at Lisnagarvey.

His first came after 23 minutes and the second after 34 minutes, but Methody had their chances — with Paddy Jack forcing a great save from Friends goalkeeper Ryan Kirkpatrick. They finally pulled one back through captain Michael Patterson’s penalty corner after 42 minutes but Edgar wrapped things up as the Lisburn school look forward to their meeting with Sullivan Upper in the decider.

Meanwhile, Lisnagarvey’s hopes of landing the Irish Senior Cup for the first time since 2005 were given a boost when the quarter-final draw was made in Dublin. If they beat Railway in the delayed second round they will meet Leinster provincial team Dublin YMCA, also at home.

Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals:

Mossley or Belfast Harlequins v South Antrim or Pembroke; Cork C of I v Three Rock or Cookstown; Queen’s or Glenanne v Monkstown; Lisnagarvey or Railway v YMCA.

Finally, Ulster’s Lizzie Colvin had the honour of captaining Ireland’s women for the first time yesterday but it was a day to forget as her team slumped to a 5-2 defeat against Spain at the Tri-Nations tournament in Andalusia.

However, it could have been worse as Ireland trailed 4-0 at half-time and looked to be heading for an even bigger defeat following earlier 4-2 losses against both Spain and Belgium.

Two late goals added a degree of respectability to the scoreline but an error-strewn opening 30 minutes will have caused coach Graham Shaw some concern. Spain’s Carmen Cano broke the deadlock in the 11th minute and they added three more through Berta Bonastre, Maialen Garcia and Mariona Serrahima before Cano got her second.

But Ireland finished strongly with Carroll tapping in a Deirdre Duke cross three minutes from the end and Sarah Torrans converting a rebound.

Ireland will attempt to avoid a whitewash today when they take on Belgium (10.45am).