HOCKEY: Ulster clubs progress to Irish Senior Cup finals

There was a sense of déjà vu at Jordanstown as Ulster Elks once again got the better of UCD.

The Elks had secured a 3-1 victory over the Dublin students last week in the EYHL and another victory was on the cards this time as Megan Frazer, Gemma Frazer and Chloe Mitchell were all on target to fire Elks into their second consecutive Irish Senior Cup final.

Meanwhile, Ards produced the shock of the tournament so far by inflicting Hermes’ first defeat of the season.

Missed opportunities and determination were the order of the day in Booterstown as O’Flanagan’s two goals were cancelled out by Benson and Brown.

Ards ran out victors as Chloe Brown scored the winning penalty stroke to set up an all-Ulster final.

In the men’s competition Monkstown ran out comfortable winners in a 6-2 victory over Glenanne.

Monkstown appeared to have gone up several gears since their defeat to Glenanne in December and were in imperious form as they booked their place in the final.

Lisnagarvey had a tougher task as they came from 3-0 down to beat Three Rock on penalty strokes.

When the two sides meet in the final there will be a plethora of Irish internationals on show, with potentially no fewer than 11 taking to the pitch.

The final for both the Men’s (Monkstown vs Lisnagarvey) and Women’s (Ulster Elks vs Ards) Irish Senior Cup will take place in the National Hockey Stadium (UCD) on 20/03/16.

Women’s Irish Senior Cup, semi-finals: Hermes 2 (A O’Flanagan 2) Ards 2 (A Benson, C Brown), Ards won 4-3 on strokes; Ulster Elks 4 (M Frazer 2, C Mitchell, G Frazer) UCD 2 (K Lloyd, S Clarke)

Men’s Irish Senior Cup, semi-finals: Lisnagarvey 3 (M Watt, N Glassey, M Nelson) Three Rock Rovers 3 (L Madeley, F Morris, C Empey) Lisnagarvey won 5-4 on strokes Glenanne 2 (D Keogh, S Boucher) Monkstown 6 (G Cole 2, G Watkins, L Cole, K Smith, J Bruton)