Broken collarbone sidelines Roycroft

UCC’s hopes of retaining their Irish Hockey League status have been dealt a huge blow with the news that talismanic midfielder Olivia Roycroft is likely to miss the rest of this season. The Ireland underage international suffered a broken collarbone this week and faces at least six weeks on the sidelines, ruling her out of Saturday’s clash with former club Bandon and the showdown with Quins later this month. College need wins in both to put their hopes of earning second place – and an automatic IHL berth – in their own hands going into the final rounds of the season.

They have an early-morning (10.15am) assignment at the Mardyke against the west Cork girls, who will be looking for a pick-me-up after the IHT reverse against Greenfields. Inability to put away corners and find accurate passes in the final third hurt Bandon last week, and they’ll also have to keep their own circle clear as Roycroft’s absence will see College unleash their numerous effective alternative routines. The priorities are different for fellow students UL, who double up this weekend with clashes against Ashton and Cork C of I as they bid to escape a relegation battle. George Blackwell’s girls have little form or momentum to speak of having played just once in the league – a 6-1 defeat to Quins – since December 3rd. But their totemic midfieldfer Laura Peters has been boosted by inclusion in the Irish Universities panel, and they’ll be hopeful of picking up points on home turf, particularly against a C of I side low on confidence after some heavy defeats. Elsewhere, north Munster takes centre stage as Limerick’s men and Clonmel’s women bid to reach the Irish Hockey Challenge finals. The Treaty city men host Ballynahinch with Amir Khan, Robbie Ryan and Nathan Eacrett the key men while Clonmel have a relatively short hop for their semi-final, away to Kilkenny, and Leanne Fogarty and Jacqui Stokes will be their likeliest source of goals. It’s also Munster Senior Cup weekend with Cork Harlequins’ meeting with Bandon the stand-out men’s tie as Catholic Institute host Cork C of I in the other semi-final. Their defensive corner unit will be glad not to be facing down John Jermyn this time, but Dan Hobbs can put them away as well. Stephen Jackson’s side will again threaten on the counter, but Quins are arguably the league’s best at finding their way out of a press and won’t intend on giving up too much ball in their own half. That will mean chance conversion is crucial for Bandon, with the pace and work-rate of Darren Beamish, Ali Smith, Scott Sullivan and Melvin Beamish vital to their hopes. Men Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Limerick v Ballynahinch, 2pm, Villiers; Kilkenny v PSNI, 3pm, Kilkenny College. Munster Senior Cup semi-finals: Catholic Institute v Cork C of I, 12.30pm Rosbrien; Cork Harlequins v Bandon, 12pm, Harlequin Park. Women Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Botanic v Monkstown, 1pm, Holy Faith Glesnevin; Kilkenny v Clonmel, 1pm, Kilkenny College. Munster Div 1: UCC v Bandon, 10.15am, Mardyke; UL v Cork C of I, 12pm, UL; Sunday: UL v Ashton, 12.30pm, UL.