Flood-hit UCC pay tribute to helping hands

Munster’s hockey community has rallied around the University College Cork (UCC) club after the students’ pitch was left unplayable for “the foreseeable future” following the catastrophic floods that hit Cork last week. With the entire Mardyke Sports Grounds under up to four feet of water last week, the all-weather pitch that is home to UCC’s eight hockey teams and the Mardyke Arena were the worst affected areas. Inspectors and insurers have been assessing the damage this week, though it is not yet known whether the pitch requires repair or a full replacement, or what the timeframe for getting it back in use will be. Replacement goalkeeper and player gear is also likely to need to be sought due to contamination by floodwaters. UCC hockey’s development officer Páidí Hartnett yesterday adopted a philosophical approach and praised those who have helped the club make alternative arrangements for training and matches. “There is structural damage to the pitch, and it will be out of action for the foreseeable future,” he said. “We have made other arrangements, Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig  in particular have been superb in this regard, while Cork Church of Ireland will host our women’s Irish Hockey League match against Pegasus on December 5.” Meanwhile, attention stays focused on the national stage for eight women’s clubs this weekend as the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup get underway. Cork Harlequins’ visit to holders UCD is the tie of the round, and also the trickiest to call. Quins recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory on home turf when the sides met last season in the Irish Hockey League, and the students could also be in for a backlash after Quins’ 3-0 loss to Railway Union in the same competition last weekend. But the likes of Lisa Jacob, Fiona Bradish and Catríona McGilp won’t want to give up their title without a fight.

Railway — the country’s form team thus far — go to Ards having already beaten them 4-1 at home in the IHL last month, but the northerners are a much different proposition at home. The other ties are local affairs, with Loreto favourite to defeat Pembroke Wanderers at home while Pegasus go to Ballymoney in an all-Ulster clash. Domestically, early pace-setters Catholic Institute will be confident of making it six wins from six as they host Waterford. UCC will be hoping to put their recent difficulties on the national stage (and the trauma of the floods) aside to keep up the pressure with a win at troubled UL, who have yet to register a goal or a point in the league. The Cork girls claimed a 3-0 win when these sides last met at the varsities, and would gladly take a repeat of that, but must do without in-form forward Vicky O’Sullivan, who is likely to be out until the new year with a broken hand. Bandon’s clash with Ashton will be a pointer as to who is better equipped to move away from the drop zone. The first meeting of C of I and Quins is the primary focus of the Munster men’s league, with Garryduff the venue on Sunday for a clash both sides will welcome, having arguably not been tested properly ahead of their upcoming IHL assignments. Skipper Paul Lombard and Eddie Dore make welcome returns from injury for Quins., who are picking from a full deck for the first time this term, though whether John Jermyn will be pressed straight back into league action for C of I following his exploits with Ireland in Argentina remains to be seen. Both clubs have Irish Junior Cup assignments to negotiate first on Saturday; Quins head north to face their Belfast namesakes – hardly the simplest of assignments for new coach Richie O’Dell – with holders C of I beginning their defence of the title won in such style last season at Banbridge. Bandon are the only Munster side with home comforts as they host NICS, while Catholic Institute’s seconds will hope to bring their blistering league form to Dublin when they visit Fingal. Men’s Irish Junior Cup Rd 1: Weston vs Mossley (Griffeen Valley, 2.30pm); Portadown vs Newry (Edenvilla Park, 1pm); Kilkeel vs South Antrim (Maccauley Park, 2.30pm); Banbridge vs Cork C of I (Havelock Park, 4pm); Clontarf vs Cookstown (Mount Temple, 1pm); Instonians vs Three Rock Rovers (Shaw’s Bridge, 4pm); Bandon vs NICS (Bandon GS, 3pm); Belfast Harlequins vs Cork Harlequins (Deramore Park, 1pm); North Down vs YMCA (Comber LC, 1pm); Pembroke Wanderers vs Corinthian (Serpentine Avenue, 1pm); Fingal vs Catholic Institute (ALSAA, 3.15pm); Bangor vs Raphoe (Ballykillaire, 2.30pm); Glenanne vs Annadale (Glenanne Park, 3pm); Monkstown vs UCD (Rathdown, 3pm); Railway Union vs Antrim (Park Avenue, 3pm); Lisngarvey vs Dublin University (Hillsborough, 2.30pm); Men’s  Div 1: Cork C of I vs Cork Harlequins (Garryduff, 2.30pm, Sunday) Women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: Loreto vs Pembroke Wanderers (Beaufort, 2.15pm); UCD vs Cork Harlequins (Belfield, 2.30pm); Ballymoney vs Pegasus (Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm); Ards vs Railway Unions (Ards LC, 2.45pm). Women’s Div 1: Catholic Institute vs Waterford (Rosbrien, 2.30pm); Bandon vs Ashton (Bandon GS, 1pm); UL vs UCC (UL, 1.30pm).