Hockey followers in Connacht, the perennial wooden-spoonists on the representative stage, have not had much to cheer about in recent years. However, the achievement of the UCG women's team in reaching the semi-finals of the inter-varsities tournament in Belfast yesterday (without conceding a goal) will provide the province with a much needed boost.
The Galway students clinched their berth with a scoreless draw against Limerick after a 4-0 win over DCU in which Orla Canavan scored twice. UCG will meet UCC today, while holders Trinity will face Queen's.
Trinity's men will carry Leinster hopes in the Mauritius Cup against University of Ulster after putting a total of 17 goals past RCSI and Limerick yesterday. The other semi-final will involve Queen's and UCC.
Mauritius Cup: Pool A: UU 5 (C Kennedy 2, A Barbour 2, A Crozier), UCC 1 (K MacKeon); UCD 3 (P Day 2 J Lawlor), DCU 1 (B Sterling); UU 7 (C Kennedy 4, J McDermott, G Kidd, P Graham), DCU 0. Pool B: Queen's 4 (D Patterson 3, J Steele), Limerick 0; Trinity 8 (G Dunne 2, J Milne 2, S O'Connor 2, J Hinds, R Tilson), RCSI 0; Trinity 9 (R Tilson 3, S Furney 2, C Carroll, M Gageby, J Milne, J Lush) Limerick 0.
Chilean Cup: Pool A: UCC 1 (L Ryan), UCD 0; UU 8 (G Poole 2, J Barr, C Parkhill, K Stevenson, J Morrison, C Holdstop, S Tate), RCSI 0; Trinity 4 (A Bowers 4), UCD 1 (S Ryan); Trinity 2 (L O'Hagan, S O'Connor), UU 1 (J Barr); UCC 11 (Aine McCarthy 3, Aoife McCarthy 2, E J Walsh 2, J Hyland 2, J O'Brien, C O'Callaghan), RCSI 0. Pool B: Queen's 1 (R Brennan), Limerick 1 (S-A McAuliffe); UCG 4 (O Canavan 2, M McDonald, O Young) DCU 0; UCG 0, Limerick 0.