Women's Irish Senior Cup Final

Aine Curran's delightful 30th minute goal propelled the Ulster Elks to a maiden women's Irish Senior Cup title at Belfield, ending Hermes' hopes of an incredible quadruple this term.

The Elks had only once previously reached the final - in their former guise of the Ulster College of Physical Education in 1971 - but were good value for the title against more established opponents.

Irish skipper Megan Frazer led the charge, first from centre forward before dropping into midfield once the lead had been taken. For Ireland, she usually operates from sweeper but she was freed to take on the more advanced role by the return of Stephanie Jameson, Canada's most capped player, who made her first appearance of 2015 for the club.Frazer was duly the boss of the first half, terrorising the Hermes defence at the head of a full press and drew some stunning blocks from Emma Gray.

In addition, her side ran up six first half penalty corners before taking the lead on the half hour when Elks' other international Shirley McCay pumped in a left wing cross.It bounced up for former UCC woman Aine Curran who controlled in mid-air before volleying home on her reverse. For Hermes part, Christine Quinlan was excellent at base of defence, mopping up numerous attacks but they were unable to get the requisite momentum going forward.Elks continued to press forward in a slightly staccato second half. Their corner count eventually ran up to 11 but proved ineffective, leaving them susceptible to a sucker-punch.

That almost came three minutes from time when Caitriona McGilp's snap shot shaved the outside of the post. They also had a couple of corners closed down but they were fleeting moments as the Elks deservedly took down their first title.For Hermes, they now look to the Irish Hockey League semi-finals in a fortnight's time which they will hope to add to the Leinster league and Jacqui Potter Cup crown.

Ulster Elks: R Davidson, S MacAuley, S Jameson, D Wilson, L Brown, G Frazer, K Lammey, M Frazer, L McAlpine, A Curran, S McCay
Subs: D Axon, L Wright, L Neish, J McMaster, D McNally

Hermes: E Gray, S Willis, S Loughran, R Carrigan, M Tennant-Humphreys, A Naughton., E Horan, A Connery, C Quinlan, S Kelly, S Patton
Subs: C McGilp, K McComish, A Harte, L Thomas, L Pinder, S Grehan

Men's Irish Senior Cup final

Banbridge 2 (S Dowds, J Wright) Cork C of I 1 (S Sweetnam), after silver goal extra time

Jamie Wright struck two minutes into silver goal extra time to end Banbridge's 29 year wait for the Irish Senior Cup title, thrashing home from mid-circle for a famous 2-1 win at Belfield.

For a long time, the winner looked like it would never come as Cork C of I goalkeeper Billy Lynch put in the performance of his life to save a wealth of penalty corners as well a string of big chances.

But Wright - in his first year with the club since moving from Portadown - nipped in at the death to win it, making Bann the seventh different winner of the title in seven years, denying C of I a fifth title.

Early on, Bann looked in good control and took the lead in the third minute as Stephen Dowds was felled down the right wing. He dusted himself off to score from the ensuing penalty corner for an early lead.

From there, though, the Co Down side came up against a brick wall as Lynch made save after save while Andy Gray, Richard Sweetnam and Philip Smith got through a wealth of work in defence.

Lynch denied Dowds a second on the 11 minute mark while Owen Magee was a constant presence in attack, creating numerous attacks with his pace and guile.

And C of I proved efficient when they got the chance to attack. They levelled despite being down to 10 players when Andrew Daunt won their second penalty corner as Stephen Sweetnam's low push picked its way through the Bann defence.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Bann pushing the tempo but found C of I impregnable in a fast furious 35 minutes of hockey.

The Cork side did have a couple of chances to nick it, Simon Wolfe sent through one on one with Gareth Lennox from Stephen Sweetnam's immaculate pass. He opted to cross instead of shoot and the chance was gone.

From there, Bann had a wealth of chances, especially from penalty corners but found Lynch equal to everything they threw at him.

When Eugene Magee looked to have him beaten, Daunt came up with a stunning tackle. Two last minute corners were also defended, sending the game into extra-time.

And that is where the game was won as Bann probed the circle and crashed one in down the middle. It popped into the path of Wright and he rounded on it perfectly to score the biggest goal of his career.

The win adds to Bann's Anderson and Kirk Cup successes and they could yet add the Ulster Premier League and Irish Hockey League crowns in the near future as part of an amazing season.