Whose cups will runneth over?

It’s squeaky bum time for many in Irish hockey this weekend as a slew of league titles and cups are up for grabs across the country. It’s Munster Senior Cup day down south, while UCC are among those in search of national silverware while both the Leinster men’s and women’s Division One league titles will be won tomorrow. Catholic Institute are gunning for a ‘double double’ as they again look to add a cup to the league title they won with such ease this term. The Limerick girls, with Elaine Bromell and Eimear Cregan forming an experienced spine around young guns Rebecca Barry, Róisín Upton and Naomi Carroll, will be hot favourites against Cork Harlequins in tomorrow’s clash, one of four cup finals at Garryduff (12.30pm).

Quins were a stubborn opponent before losing being vanquished 5-2 in last year’s decider and they will hope to have Cliodhna Sargent back in tow after her Olympic qualification exploits with Ireland to bolster their cause. The curtain-raiser to this tie will be the Munster Senior Plate final between UCC and Cork C of I. The men’s senior final brings together Munster’s best two teams in the decider for the first time in a couple of years as Cork Harlequins meet Cork C of I (2.30pm). C of I have the upper hand psychologically and in terms of momentum, having handed Quins 4-1 defeats both home and away in their last two clashes, the St Stephen’s Day Peard Cup final and a league encounter last weekend, respectively. The gate from this clash will be donated to the Friends of Chris Pelow Fund, set up to help the 24-year-old former Corinthian and Ireland A man who was forced to have the lower half of one of his legs amputated in Australia last week. Further afield, UCC again go chasing Irish Hockey Trophy glory as they meet Donegal outfit Raphoe in Sunday’s final at Belfield (3.30pm), one of four national cup finals at the UCD venue over the weekend. Neil Welch’s side reached last year’s decider only to be ousted 2-1 by South Antrim, but they have returned this year with a stronger panel and saw off South 3-2 in the semis. The sole meeting in modern times of these two sides was in the early rounds of last year’s IHT, College running out 3-1 winners at the Donegal venue. Meanwhile, Monkstown are gunning for their first Leinster men’s title in 30 years, needing just a point at home to second-placed Glenanne. But a Glens victory gives them the honours and they’ll be keen to once again win the title again at Rathdown as they did last term. Monkstown then face into a Mills Cup final 24 hours later against Pembroke Wanderers, a clash between the 2011 and 2010 winners. The women’s title race will also go to the wire, with Railway Union needing to defeat Hermes to be sure of the title. A loss for Mick McKinnon’s side, coupled with victory for second-placed UCD away to Old Alex, would see the students leapfrog them to take the spoils Munster Senior Cup finals, Garryduff: Women’s Senior Plate final: Cork C of I v UCC, 10.30am; Women’s Senior Cup final: Cork Harlequins v Catholic Institute, 12.30pm; Men’s Senior Cup final: Cork C of I v Cork Harlequins, 2.30pm; Men’s Barber Cup final: Cork C of I E v Ashton B, 4.30pm. Irish Hockey Challenge finals, Belfield, UCD: Women: Botanic v Kilkenny, 1.15pm; Men: Kilkenny v Ballynahinch, 3.30pm. Sunday: Irish Hockey Trophy finals, Belfield, UCD: Women: Greenfields v Omagh, 1.15pm; Men: Raphoe v UCC, 3.30pm.