Hockey Cup semi-finals round-up: Catholic Institute reach third final in a row

Catholic Institute have qualified for their third Women's Irish Senior Cup final in a row by beating 2024 EY Hockey League Women’s Division 1 champions Loreto 1-0 in the first semi-final at Beaufort.

The winning goal came early on as Institute broke in the first minute and found Roisín Begley inside the Loreto semi-circle and she rifled the ball into the net.

Despite their best efforts, especially in the second half, Loreto who head to Amsterdam for the Euro Hockey League next Wednesday, could find no way through.

Catholic Institute will play the winners of the second semi-final between UCD and Railway Union which is due to be played at Belfield in the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, in the first of the Men's Irish Senior Cup semi-finals on Sunday, Lisnagarvey hosted Three Rock Rovers at Comber Road and ran out comfortable 6-1 winners.

Peter McKibbin opened the scoring for Garvey in the sixth minute from a converted penalty corner. Mark Mc Nellis made it 2-0 to the hosts in the 12th minute from another converted penalty corner.

After half-time, Ben Johnson’s 39th converted penalty corner got Three Rock Rovers off the mark and it was a one goal game until near the end of the third quarter when Oliver Kidd scored from a penalty corner in the 50th minute and McKibbin got his second of the game in the 59th minute to leave Garvey leading 5-1 going into the closing stages.

Oliver Kidd got his second penalty corner of the match in the final minute to secure Lisnagarvey a place in the final which we now know will be an all-Ulster affair after Banbridge saw off Cookstown 4-0 at at Havelock Park.

Johnny McKee gave Banbridge the lead with a sixth minute goal from open play. Louis Rowe added a second in the 29th minute.

Thomas Orr converted