Postponements leave men’s fixtures cupboard looking bare

It will be another seven days before Cork Church of Ireland’s men begin their defence of the Munster Senior League Division One title after both games involving the club’s firsts this weekend were postponed. C of I were due to open their league account at Garryduff on Saturday against Catholic Institute, but that game, along with Sunday’s Peard Cup quarter-final showdown with Cork Harlequins, will now not go ahead. It is understood both Quins and C of I wished to move their Peard Cup game closer to their second Irish Hockey League encounters on November 29, in order to provide each team with meaningful competition ahead of their respective games against Glenanne and Banbridge. That postponement was granted in lieu of the fact that both clubs had league fixtures to occupy them this weekend, but Institute requested a postponement of their visit to Garryduff on Thursday due to a shortage of players. It’s understood C of I had the option of taking a walkover, but instead agreed to have the fixture moved to a later date.

Elsewhere, UCC’s debut in Division One had also been put back, after John Dennis’s side were granted a postponement of their clash with Quins B due to the fact that many of their players only returned to the club this week for the commencement of the college year. The Division One calendar for this weekend has a threadbare look as a result, with just the Bandon derby (5pm, Bandon GS) and Quins A’s clash with C of I B (Harlequin Park, 2pm) going ahead. Quins will be favourites to open up a six-point gap on C of I A after their 9-0 demolition of their seconds last week, and Stephen Dale’s side will have a formidable look as they welcome back Paul and Dave Lombard, Mark Black and Rob Hobbs, who missed last weekend’s club derby. In the women’s league, Bandon face a real test of their credentials as they host champions Quins (12pm, BGS), but will go into the game on a high after their surprise 6-0 demolition of Catholic Institute last weekend. Institute will be looking to make amends for that abherration when they take on Ashton – who were also on the end of a heavy defeat last weekend, going down 5-0 to C of I – at Rosbrien (1pm), while on Sunday, Belvedere and UL get their season underway at Ballincollig (2.15pm). Fixtures (all Saturday unless stated) Men Div 1 Bandon B vs Bandon A (Bandon GS, 5pm) Quins A vs C of I B (Harlequin Park, 2pm) Div 2 Galway vs Limerick (Galway, Sunday, 4.30pm) Belvedere vs C of I C (Ballincollig, Sunday, 11am) C of I D vs Bandon C (Garryduff, Sunday, 12.45pm) Div 3 Limerick B vs Cath Inst B (Limerick, Sunday, 12.30pm) Belvedere B vs C of I E (Ballincollig, Sunday,12.30pm) C of I F vs Quins E (Garryduff, Sunday, 11am) Quins D vs Ashton (Harlequin Park, Sunday, 3pm) Women Div 1 Cath Inst vs Ashton (Rosbrien, 1.15pm) Bandon vs Quins (Bandon GS, 12pm) Belvedere vs UL (Ballincollig, Sunday, 2.15pm) Div 2 Quins vs Moyne/Thurles (2.15pm) Cath Inst vs C of I (Rosbrien, Sunday, 1pm) Ashton vs Bandon (Ashton School, Sunday, 2pm) Div 3 C of I vs Fermoy (Garryduff, 11am) Belvedere vs Waterford (Ballincollig, 1.30pm) Dungarvan vs Midleton (Dungarvan, Sunday, 3pm) Div 4 Bandon vs C of I (Bandon GS, 2.30pm) Tipperary vs Waterford (Tipperary, Sunday, 2pm) UL vs Ashton (UL, Sunday, 2.30pm) Fermoy vs Cobh (Midleton, Sunday, 1.30pm) Div 5 Clonmel vs Limerick (Tipperary, 12pm) Belvedere vs C of I (Ballincollig, 11.30am) Ashton vs Quins (Ashton School, Sunday, 4pm) Div 6 Ashton vs Belvedere (Ashton School, 2pm) Cobh vs Dungarvan (Midleton, Sunday, 3pm)