Ulster duo primed for EHL

Two of Ulster’s finest will invade Antwerp in Belgium this weekend as Banbridge and Cookstown go in search of a EuroHockey League KO16 place. It sees Ulster clubs enjoy their first taste of the biggest club competition in the world, with all Ireland’s previous representatives having come from Leinster. Bann will be focussing on their first tie, the challenge of French champions CA Montrouge, rather than that of two-time champions UHC Hamburg.

“The big challenge for me and the players is too channel our efforts towards the French game as that is the important one regarding qualifying for the next stage,” Bann coach Mark Tumilty said. “Too often Irish teams at all levels have come close against the top teams but ended up not winning the crucial game in the tournament.” Cookstown have been handed an absolute brute of a draw, playing English giants Reading and then Dutch kingpins Amsterdam back to back on Friday and Saturday. But co-coach Stephen Cuddy is buzzing about the challenge ahead: “This is obviously the biggest test in hockey any of us have faced on the club scene. “Initially I felt like a non-league coach who has just got Liverpool in the Champions League! On reflection we are not a non-league team and have plenty of talent in our own side that will be able to compete with the players we will come up against next weekend.” Bangor man Chris Cargo — now with England’s Reading — will be lining out against an Irish side for the first time since his move abroad several years ago, while David Ames (Beeston), Jason Lynch (Racing Bruxelles) Ronan Gormley (Club de Campo) Stephen Butler and Eugene Magee (both KHC Dragons) are among the other Irishmen representing foreign clubs at the EHL. Domestically, Munster U18 girls have been dealt a cruel blow as a fractured foot rules captain Róisín Upton out of their interprovincial tournament at Stormont in Belfast, where the U16 girls interpros are also taking place. Mount Mercy’s Abbey Oakes has been called up as a replacement, and although Upton retains the captaincy and will travel with the party as a spectator, Antonia McGrath and Vicky Burns will now share the on-field duties. Back in Munster, Cork Harlequins head into a potentially tricky clash with UCC with their tails up, following an assured IHL performance against Glenanne. John Hobbs ruled the defensive roost that day and if he can thwart College’s forwards in a similar manner, Quins will be confident of taking the points. UCC come into the game with cause to let off steam though, having under-performed in the 1-1 draw with Bandon, and will be keen to use Fionn O’Leary and Shrew Power in particular to test a Quins rearguard that can have trouble with pacy counter-attacks.

Quins’ second string host Bandon straight after, with the proximity of games likely to give them a strong panel for the occasion. Bandon have regressed somewhat since putting Quins firsts to the pin of their collar in the Peard Cup but will be buoyed psychologically by the point gained at the Mardyke, and will be particularly dangerous if Ali Smith and Andrew Scannell can shake off the injury concerns that kept them out of the frame against UCC. The sole women’s tie involves the university sides, UCC and UL, as neither have players involved at the interpros. This fixture has been an easy three points for the Cork side in recent years, but that could all change tomorrow. UL have thus far proven themselves far more resilient than last term, eking out five points from a possible nine in league action while only being denied in the Examiner Cup by a Cork C of I golden goal. And College are still coming to terms with bedding in a new-look side; in addition, they’ll hardly be enthralled by having to hit the road to Limerick, having been in Ulster the past two weekends. Paidi Hartnett’s side will nonetheless start as favourites and have the greater quality throughout, but they will find out pretty quickly that the shackles need to be put on Laura and Steph Peters, South East interpro Jean Devoy and Elaine Breen to achieve the desired result. EuroHockey League Rd 1, Antwerp, Belgium (Irish fixtures only) Pool A fixtures (all Irish time): Reading vs Cookstown, 12pm today; Cookstown vs Amsterdam H&BC, 11am tomorrow; Amsterdam vs Reading, 11am, Sunday Pool F fixtures: CA Montrouge vs Banbridge, 9.30am todat; UHC Hamburg vs CA Montrouge, 8.30am tomorrow; Banbridge vs UHC Hamburg, 8.30am Sunday. Munster (all Saturday) Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins v UCC (Farmers Cross, 12.30pm); Cork Harlequins B v Bandon (Farmer’s Cross, 2pm); Women’s Div 1: UL v UCC (UL, 3pm). Girls Interpros, NICS, Stormont, Belfast: U16 girls fixtures here; U18 girls fixtures here.