Bandon look to derail C of I’s title challenge

Cork C of I’s women face a potential banana skin as they begin the final phase of their bid to wrest the Munster title from Cork Harlequins for the first time in 14 seasons, with Bandon lying in the long grass in west Cork on Sunday. Bandon skipper Alison Kingston and her troops will relish the prospect of upsetting one of the big guns, having narrowly failed to do so in the Munster Senior Cup final against UCC on Tuesday. The permutations are simple for C of I; win each of their remaining four games and the title will be theirs. However, those include a second clash with Bandon plus a tricky showdown with Catholic Institute, not to mention the visit of Quins to Garryduff. A win there wouldn’t necessarily guarantee the title for Quins; the leaders must also host UCC, who handed them their biggest league defeat in a decade and a half (3-0) earlier this term.

For their part, newly-crowned Munster Senior Cup champions College have two home games this weekend against Ashton and Belvedere, who are scrapping to avoid the drop. Should they take maximum points from those, they must hope Quins can oust C of I, then claim a win at Harlequin Park themselves on April 7. That could force a two- or three-way playoff for the league title, as goal difference will not enter the equation under new rules estblished in recent years. There is a further carrot for the three title-chasing clubs in the form of the two automatic Irish Hockey League qualification spots; the third-placed team will be forced to enter the wildcard playoff, in which UCC came a cropper last year. On the national stage, the latest chapter in the enduring rivalry between Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers will be written when the Leinster heavyweights clash in the last four of the men’s Irish Senior Cup at Serpentine Avenue tomorrow (2.15pm). Goals are a guarantee for fans if the duo’s previous meetings are anything to go by. Glens reeled in a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 in their Valentine’s Day league clash, but went down by the odd goal in nine in a recent Irish Hockey League encounter. Pembroke are the holders and will be keen to get back on track after succumbing in extra-time to Corinthians in the Mills Cup final on St Patrick’s Day, though Arul Anthoni’s Glens will be determined to take back the title they won in 2007. Annadale are still waiting to find out their opponents in the other semi-final, but either way it will be an all-Ulster affair as Cookstown and Banbridge meet at Coolnafranky in the delayed quarter-final tomorrow. The women’s competition has reached the last eight stage, with a number of unfamiliar faces still in contention. The pairing of Ulster Elks – a second-tier team in the northern province, though not for much longer – and Leinster’s basement side Corinthian is a novel one indeed, although Lurgan’s progression as the other surprise package looks set to come to an end at the hands of Pegasus. Elsewhere, Ballymoney – drawn at home in every round this season and conquerors of both C of I and Quins – can expect a backlash from Railway Union, who saw their treble dreams ruined earlier this week when Hermes claimed the Jacqui Potter Cup on penalty strokes. UCD will be hoping to continue their giant-killing exploits as they travel to Belfast Harlequins, having already seen off Hermes and Loreto.  Men’s Irish Senior Cup semi-final: Pembroke Wanderers vs Glenanne (Serpentine Avenue, 2.15pm) Quarter-final: Cookstown vs Banbridge (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm).   Munster Charity Cup: Cork C of I B vs Bandon (Garryduff, 2.30pm); Catholic Institute vs Cork Harlequins B (Rosbrien, 3pm).   Women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals (2.30pm unless stated): Lurgan vs Pegasus (Craigavon); Ballymoney vs Railway Union (Joey Dunlop Centre); Ulster Elks vs Corinthian (UUJ, 1pm); Belfast Harlequins vs UCD (Deramore).   Munster Div 1: UL vs Catholic Institute (UL, 1.15pm); Bandon vs Belvedere (Bandon Grammar, 1.30pm), UCC vs Ashton (Mardyke, 2pm);   Tomorrow: Bandon vs Cork C of I (Bandon Grammar, 1.30pm); UCC vs Belvedere (Mardyke, 2pm).