Both Ards and Cookstown have secured their places in the Hockey Ireland Indoor Super Sixes as winners of the Ulster Championships whilst Lisnagarvey also progressed as runners-up in the men’s section.
All three sides secured their qualification at yesterday’s Indoor Championships at the Antrim Forum and will now compete once more in two weeks time as they look to qualify for the All-Ireland Finals.
Ards came into the weekend top of the women’s section with maximum points from week one, and continued their fine form as they began week two with a convincing 7-0 win over Randalstown before beating Coleraine 13-0 in their second fixture.
Their final game of the competition saw a third minute penalty corner from captain Erin Getty open the scoring before Ellie Montgomery equalised for Queen’s University.
Goals either side of half-time from Getty and Frankie Brown restored the Ards lead whilst Maddie Leathem wrapped up the victory in the 27th minute despite a late consolation effort from Jodie Simmons.
The win confirmed Ards as champions, meaning the side retained their indoor title for an amazing 14th consecutive year.
Like Ards, Cookstown also entered week two as group leaders but only by goal difference as they and Lisnagarvey were tied on seven points.
The reigning champions of the competition, they got week two off to a winning start as they Beat Belfast Harlequins 4-2 with goals from Scott McCabe (2), Scott McCabe and Danny Kerr.
Meanwhile, games two and three saw consecutive draws with both Banbridge and Lisnagarvey, leaving them top of the group by one point after their six games.
As for Lisnagarvey, they began week two with their first defeat of the competition, losing 3-2 to rivals Banbridge, before beating Belfats Harlequins 7-0 in their second game of the afternoon.
Three goals from Oliver Kidd helped the side seal a late 3-3 draw with Cookstown, despite having trailed 3-1 until the 27th minute and earned them second spot with 11 points.
The three Ulster sides will all now progress to the Super Sixes in two weeks time with Ards set to compete at St. Columbas College, Dublin whilst Cookstown and Lisnagarvey will once more be in action at the Antrim Forum.
Should the sides finish in the top two of their respective groups, they will then qualify for the All-Ireland Finals at the Antrim Forum next month.
PHOTO: Front Row Union
