HOCKEY European Trophies: After slipping up in their opening game at the European Trophy in Azerbaijan, Hermes responded with two wins over the weekend, against Austrian and Italian opposition, to set up a promotion play-off against Russian side Volga Telecom today.
Hermes opened brightly against Arminen on Saturday, scoring twice in the first seven minutes through Aisling Keane and Jenny Burke, before overwhelming the Austrians in the second half with nine more goals, amongst them an Aoife Mitchell hat-trick and two apiece from Carol Devine and Christine Quinlan.
Needing just a draw yesterday against Seneca San Saba to ensure a top-two finish in the pool the Irish champions sealed a win with two goals from Burke either side of half-time (31 and 41 minutes). Atasport (Azerbaijan) and Royal Victory (Belgium) meet in the second promotion cross-over.
No such joy for the men of Cork Church of Ireland, who went to the European Trophy in Prague in search of promotion for Ireland (Instonians play in the competition next season) but were relegated to the C division yesterday after losing 3-0 to Dinamo Ekaterinburg of Russia.
C of I, who enjoyed the majority of possession, went a goal down after seven minutes but had a chance to level four minutes before the break when Andrew Chambers won a penalty stroke - John Jermyn's effort was, however, saved. The Russians responded by going 2-0 up just two minutes later, sealing the win with their third goal midway through the second half.
EUROPEAN WOMEN'S TROPHY (at Baku): Saturday - Hermes 11 (A Keane, J Burke 2, A Mitchell 3, C Devine 2, C Quinlan 2, L Jacob) Arminen Koller Transport (Austria) 0. Yesterday - Hermes 2 (Burke 2) Seneca San Saba 0. Today: Promotion play-off - Hermes v Volga Telecom, 5.30 (local time).
EUROPEAN MEN'S TROPHY (at Prague): Saturday - Church of Ireland 2 (J Jermyn 2) S G Amiscora 0. Yesterday - Relegation play-off - C of I 0 Dinamo Ekaterinburg 3.
