Revenge mission for UCC

UCC have a bone to pick with South Antrim when the sides meet in tomorrow’s Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final at The Mardyke (1pm). College under-performed in losing last year’s final 2-1 to South in Dublin, and will be determined to have another crack off them on home turf having seen off other Ulster opposition in Antrim and Bangor en route to the last four. Neil Welch’s students are a stronger proposition this year having added excellent depth to their squad in Adam O’Callaghan, Stuart O’Grady, Shrew Power and Cian Kavanagh, but must tidy up defensively if they are to advance against a side who hat Rathgar Chiefs for six in the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Cork Harlequins can all but wrap up second place and automatic Irish Hockey League qualification if they win at home to basement side Cork C of I in the Munster women’s league (12pm). Victory would put them on 23 points,a figure only Bandon could match if the west Cork side eke out maximum points from their remaining four games. The games just don’t get any easier for C of I, who continue to suffer from the dearth of players in their 20s in the club, but the sight of their old rivals should be enough to coax a battling performance from Philip Smith’s charges. Catholic Institute’s quest to complete a 100% Munster women’s senior league campaign continues as they visit Ashton, who are on a high after routing UL 5-0 last weekend. Insta were denied such a feat on the final day of the last campaign when Quins held themto a 0-0, but they have been scoring for fun this season and Elaine Redmond can expect a busy day between the Ashton posts. For their part, the hosts will hope Caroline McCarthy continues her excellent recent form while Dee Keohane, Ciara O’Herlihy and Yvonne Mangan continue to play effective unsung roles. It’s a quieter weekend in the men’s top tier, although Catholic Institute’s visit to Cork Harlequins B has bragging rights at stake. Insta are two points behind their rivals at the bottom of the table but this is Quins B’s final league game of the campaign, offering the Limerick side the carrot of ensuring they avoid the wooden spoon. The Rosbrien outfit have put a total of seven goals past C of I and Quins in their past couple of games but continue to struggle defensively, with Paul Murray and Mark Lombard among those who will hope to take advantage for Quins. It’s also Munster Junior Cup semi-final weekend, meaning Quins B will have to double up as they take on Division 2’s standard bearers, C of I C, on Sunday. Having been beaten by Bandon’s seconds in the Irish Junior Cup, Quins will not take another second-tier side lightly, and C of I may be able to call upon the experience of the likes of Gavin Jeffrey, Grant Sweetnam and Simon McAllister for this assignment. Much will depend on their nominations for this tournament, given C of I seconds are also in action in the other semi-final. Bandon B provide the opponents here. The Garryduff men should have too much firepower in the form of Stuart Miller, David Herbert and Simon Wolfe but Bandon have an ace sharpshooter of their own in Melvin Beamish, and the west Cork men will be hoping C of I have a hangover from their heartbreaking IJC golden goal defeat to Lisnagarvey last weekend. Men Irish Hockey Trophy semi-finals: UCC v South Antrim, Mardyke, 1pm; Raphoe v Portadown, Royal & Prior, 2.30pm; Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins B v Catholic Institute, Harlequin Park, 1.30pm. Munster Junior Cup semi-finals: Cork C of I B v Bandon, 4pm, Garryduff; Cork C of I C v Cork Harlequins B, Sunday, 12pm, Garryduff. Women Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins v Cork C of I, Harlequin Park, 12pm; Ashton v Catholic Institute, Ashton School, 12.30pm.