Speers helps Pegasusend long wait for a win in Cork
ALEX Speers scored her fifth goal of the season to secure Pegasus an important 4-2 EY Irish Hockey League away win over Cork Harlequins on Saturday and keep her team very much in the title mix.
It was the Belfast team’s first victory at the Munster venue since the expanded competition’s inception four seasons ago.
The result keeps Pegasus within touching distance of the top as they trail leaders Loreto only on goal difference after the Dubliners came from behind to beat Old Alex 2-1.
It was a much-improved Pegasus performance after they had been second best in losing 2-0 to Loreto six days earlier in Belfast.
Speers said: “It was important that we bounced back because we felt we let ourselves down in the Loreto game.
“It’s always difficult playing in Cork, especially this time as they were determined to get a result after making a poor start to the season.
“So we were delighted with the win and it was all the more satis- fying as we were unable to bring a full squad down and had just 12 players with us.”
Ireland Under-21 striker Taite Doherty scored twice in the opening quarter as Pegasus made a blistering start but Cliodhna Sargent pulled one back from the penalty spot just before halftime.
Shirley McCay made it 3-1 shortly after the restart from another penalty stroke but Quins responded again through Emily O’Leary.
But Pegasus had the final say near the end when Speers finished clinically after swapping passes with Michelle Harvey.
Meanwhile, Lisnagarvey stay top of the Ulster Premier League after coming from behind to end Queen’s 100% record with a 1-1 draw at the Dub.
Emily McStea put the students ahead with a well-taken goal in the 12th minute, firing home superbly after latching on to a through ball.
But Garvey, inspired by exQueen’s midfielder Robyn McKee, hit back to equalise in the 48th minute with a superb goal as Chloe Gillard drove in from the left and shot into the roof of the net.
Garvey coach Adam Louden said: “I thought it was a really good game and both sides played some great hockey.
“We are happy with the point as we appreciate how hard it is to play against Queen’s and get a result, home or away.
“The girls deserve tremendous credit as we’d worked on our game plan through the week and executed it well today.
“It’s still really close at the top and the league in general is still really tight, but we are just happy to still be up there competing.”
Elsewhere, Ballymoney and Banbridge fought out an exciting 3-3 draw at the Joey Dunlop Centre while Dungannon were indebted to Leanne Cassells who got both goals in her team’s 2-0 win over struggling Rainey.
In the Denman Ulster Shield, Brenna McEwen and Francesca Brown got two goals apiece as Ards opened their account with a 4-0 win over Randalstown at Londonderry Park.
Tonight sees one Ulster Premier League game down for decision , with Ulster Elks and current champions Lurgan meeting head-on at Jordanstown (7.45pm).
EY Irish Hockey League: Cork Harlequins 2 (C Sargent, E O’Leary) Pegasus 4 (T Doherty 2, A Speers, S McCay); Muckross 0 Railway Union 2 (H de Burgh Whyte, K Fearon); Old Alex 1 (E Russell) Loreto 2 (A Meeke, H Matthews); UCD 3 (M Carey, N Heisterkamp, L McGuire) Pembroke 1 (S Loughran)
Ulster Premier League: Ballymoney 3 (K Minihan, L Millar, N Parke) Banbridge 3 (O Berry, E Reid, S McCullough); Dungannon 2 (L Cassells 2) Rainey 0; Queen’s 1 (E McStea) Lisnagarvey 1 (C Gillard)
Senior One: Castle 1 (K McIlroy) Club KV 4 (J Doak 2, J Orr, L Kelly); North Down 1 (K Sinclair) Raphoe 3 (W Patterson 3). Denman Ulster Shield: Ards 4 (B McEwen 2, F Brown 2) Randalstown 0
Irish Junior Cup: Belfast Harlequins II 2 Pembroke II 4; Loreto II 7 Ulster Elks II 0; Pegasus II 6 Monkstown II 2; UCD II 5 Ballymoney II 0: Irish Hockey Challenge: Dromore 1 Civil Service 0.
Tonight: Ulster Premier League: Ulster Elks v Lurgan (7.45pm). BELFAST Star are now riding high at the top of the All Ireland Superleague after a stunning 8979 victory away to Tralee on Saturday night.
Star are a club transformed this season and with Templeogue losing their Dublin derby to DCU Saints, it means the Belfast side are out on their own at the summit for the first time in 20 years.
Spanish ace Sergio Vidal is proving to be a rough diamond for Star as he rose to the intimidating atmosphere of a packed arena and delivered a game high 25 points, while rebounding with a potent combination of spite and athleticism.
Vidal led by example against a very physical Tralee side with his passion and intelligent use of the ball, while also contributing more than ever on offence.
Mike Davis was once again to the fore as well as he delivered 23 points.
The American has proved to be a great acquisition for Star and in what was arguably the club’s toughest test of the season so far he rose to the occasion.
Star head coach Adrian Fulton said: “Sergio seems to love the big occasion, he loves the cauldron-like atmosphere — he hit the first 10 of our 12 points and just wanted the ball every time to show what he could do.
“It was a terrific performance from Sergio and he has been a big plus for us but I also have to say that the guys coming off the bench like Conor Johnston, Matt Jackson and Paddy McGaharan made a great contribution.”
Star were put under the cosh with two minutes remaining after American Davis fouled out with the Belfast side just three points ahead. Tralee turned up the heat but Star showed their character and teenager CJ Fulton (above) produced a piece of magic when drawing in two defenders before delivering a wicked pass for Slovenian Mark Berlic to convert a crucial basket.
Fulton added: “We had to show resilience and that’s exactly what the guys did.
“It would have been easy to panic but they didn’t — but I also have to take into account that Tralee missed seven of eight free-throws down the stretch.
“CJ has been doing very well, he had another good game and stayed calm down the stretch. We didn’t think he’d be playing nearly as much as he is.
“It’s more out of necessity — Aidan Quinn is injured, Conor is basically playing with one hand and CJ has grasped his chance.”