Ashton look to storm Garryduff fortress

The domestic season proper gets underway this weekend, with the pick of the games taking place at Garryduff, where Cork Church of Ireland take on Ashton in the ladies’ Division One (Saturday, 3pm). C of I are currently undergoing a transition period, with coach Phil Oakley handing senior debuts to a number of teenage players during last weekend’s pre-season clashes with Trinity, Galway and Railway Union.

How many of them will feature on Saturday is anyone’s guess, but C of I will nonetheless be looking to put down an early-season marker given they and Cork Harlequins could come under serious pressure from UCC for the automatic Irish Hockey League slots this term. For Ashton’s part, captain Yvonne Mangan will be looking for her charges to prove they can compete with one of the division’s top sides and put last season’s disappointing campaign, where they scrapped around at the bottom of the table, behind them. Both side’s thirds are also in action at Garryduff on Saturday, with their Division Four clash fixed for 12pm, while their fourths meet at Ashton School in Division Five at 2pm on Sunday. Elsewhere, Bandon host Catholic Institute on Saturday (2.30pm), with both sides out to get early points on the board to put pressure on Denis Pritchard’s UCC, who don’t begin their league campaign until October 4. Fermoy meet Mallow in their Division Four season-opener at Midleton on Sunday (3pm), while Harlequins take on Limerick at Farmer’s Cross in Division Five on Suday at 1.30pm. In Division Six, Bruff get their campaign underway when they take on Ashton at Crescent College (Saturday, 12.30pm), while Cobh host Belvedere on Sunday in Midleton (12pm). There is just one game in the men’s league, with Cork Harlequins coach Stephen Dale getting a chance to survey his extended squad in competitive action when Quins A take on Quins B at Farmer’s Cross on Saturday (12pm). Saturday Ladies Div 1: Cork C of I vs Ashton (Garryduff, 3pm); Bandon vs Catholic Institute (Bandon GS, 2.30pm) Div 4: Cork C of I vs Ashton (Garryduff, 12pm); Div 6: Bruff vs Ashton (Crescent College, 12.30pm) Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins A vs Cork Harlequins B (Farmer’s Cross, 12pm) Sunday Ladies Div 4: Fermoy vs Mallow (Midleton, 3pm) Div 5: Ashton vs Cork C of I (Ashton School, 2pm); Cork Harlequins vs Limerick (Farmer’s Cross, 1.30pm) Div 6: Cobh vs Belvedere (Midleton, 12pm)