IHL hopes on the line for Quins and UCC

Cork Harlequins and UCC both face season-defining clashes tomorrow as they bid to progress to the last four of the Irish Hockey League. In Pool A, third-placed Quins know a win on the road at Ballymoney will put them right back in the mix for the second qualification spot. ‘Money have been something of a bogey team for Quins in recent seasons, particularly on home turf at the Joey Dunlop Centre,where a 6-3 Irish Senior Cup humbling a couple of seasons back stands out.

Nonetheless, Quins are cock-a-hoop after wins over both UCC and Catholic Institute last weekend, and with ‘Money not quite the force of recent years on paper, will have no fears about the trip north. Railway Union have extracted a maximum 12 points from their three games in this pool, and can confirm their place in the last eight with a win at basement side Cork C of I tomorrow. The hosts’ Cathy Kenefick will be keen to put one over on the side she used to captain however, but Railway’s Cork camogie star Emer Dillon misses out on a chance to impress on home turf due to work commitments. Pembroke Wanderers’ league form has been miserable this term – they are second from bottom in Leinster. But they are riding high in second place in this pool, and buoyed by a shock Jacqui Potter Cup semi-final win over Hermes last weekend, will look to reaffirm their position with a home win over Ards. In the more tightly-fought Pool B, fourth-placed UCC welcome champions Loreto to Garryduff knowing they are in the last chance saloon after narrow defeats to Hermes and Pegasus. College welcome back Miriam Crowley, who missed the Quins defeat due to Ashbourne Cup commitments, and are set to be at full strength for the clash. But ominously, so are Loreto, who boast a quintet of internationals in their ranks; shutting down Nikki Symmons and Niamh Small will be top of the defensive brief for the College midfield. Hermes travel outside Dublin for the first time in this year’s competition, hoping their attacking trio of Anna O’Flanagan, Deirdre Duke and Aine Connery can continue their fine recent form against bottom-of-the-table Randalstown.

Pace-setters Pegasus will host Old Alex at Queens in the only Sunday game, knowing victory will put them in pole position to top the pool and all but end the Dubliners’ faint qualification hopes. The men’s Irish Senior Cup is the other show in town this weekend, with the competition proving as open as ever as it reaches the quarter-final stage. Glenanne’s vanquishing of holders Pembroke Wanderers has stoked the fires of all the remaining teams, and the former’s clash with Corinthian could be the tie of the round. That is unless Three Rock Rovers and Lisnagarvey repeat the fireworks of their famous Club Championships clash two seasons ago, when the Dubliners edged a thriller 6-5 thanks to a quintet of strikes from Mitch Darling. But the Irish international hotshot has now departed for Belgium, and it is ‘Garvey who boast the sharper scoring credentials this time around, thanks to the red-hot form of Timmy Cockram and Greg Thompson. 2008 finalists Monkstown will be favourites to oust Kilkeel on home turf, though the all-Ulster showdown between Banbridge and Annadale is a harder one to call. Domestically, Catholic Institute have a chance to leapfrog UCC at the summit of the women’s league but must overcome a tough challenge at Bandon, while UL head to Waterford, still in search of their first league points. The men’s league sees the second strings of C of I and Quins do battle, while Quins A host Institute – welcoming back Mark Black and Eddie Dore from injury in the process – and C of I have an assignment against UCC under lights at Garryduff tonight. Men’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: Banbridge vs Annadale (Havelock Park, 2.45pm); Monkstown vs Kilkeel (Rathdown, 1.30pm); Three Rock Rovers vs Lisnagarvey (Grange Road, 2.30pm); Glenanne vs Corinthian (Glenanne Park, 1pm). Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Catholic Institute (Harlequin Park, 12.30pm); Cork Harlequins B vs Cork C of I B (Harlequin Park, 2pm); Tonight: C of I vs UCC (Garryduff, 8pm) Women’s Irish Hockey League Round 4 Pool A: Cork C of I vs Railway (Garryduff, 1pm); Ballymoney vs Cork Harlequins (Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm);Pembroke Wanderers vs Ards (Serpentine Avenue, 2.30pm).Pool B: UCC vs Loreto (Garryduff, 3pm); Randalstown vs Hermes (Antrim Forum, 2.30pm); Sunday: Pegasus vs Old Alexandra (Queens, 1pm). Munster Div 1: Bandon vs Catholic Institute (Bandon GS, 1.30pm); Waterford vs UL (Newtown, 1.30pm)