Dowds the dangerman as Quins host Banbridge

Cork Harlequins may have been surprise Irish Senior Cup winners last season, but one more victory will have them back where they want to be at the finals weekend. The holders host Banbridge today at Farmer’s Cross (2.30pm), a repeat of their meeting at this stage last season. Quins won that clash 2-1 — famously pulling out a performance after losing 8-1 to local rivals Cork C of I in a midweek friendly — meaning Bann will relish the prospect of toppling last year’s unlikely champions in their backyard. The Havelock Park outfit aren’t the force of a couple of years ago and Quins have a good record at home against Ulster opposition which was continued when they snuck past Cookstown 1-0 last week. But they have threats all over the pitch, particularly goal machine Stephen Dowds who will be keen to prove a point after missing out on selection for this week’s Ireland training camp in Amsterdam, which saw Drew Carlisle receive a call-up.

The winners will have to then wait until March, with the competition taking a break until its showpiece finals weekend. Elsewhere, there are two big Leinster derbies which should produce two title contenders no matter who comes out on top; YMCA host Pembroke while last year’s finalists Railway Union go to Monkstown. Three Rock Rovers welcome Ulster’s surprise package Kilkeel to Grange Road. It’s a key weekend too for those battling to tread water at the foot of the Munster senior women’s league. Fermoy host Ashton needing to hit the ground running after the fixtures gods dealt them a five-week break, but the light blues are on a run under Alan Dobson’s tutelage with his daughter Emma, a new signing from C of I, skipper Emma Harrington and Munster U16 starlet Michelle Barry all in fine form. Limerick head to west Cork to play Bandon knowing that three points here could go a long way to ensuring their survival, should John Dennis’ depleted squad continue to struggle to pick up points elsewhere. Catholic Institute welcome C of I to Rosbrien with a degree of wariness having watched Eddie Kirwan help begin a turnaround in fortunes in Rochestown, but knowing they have the firepower to continue their 100% record if everything clicks. There’s one men’s Division One game which sees Cork C of I B hope to continue their decent run of results against a UCC side smarting from last weekend’s Irish Senior Cup hiding at the hands of YMCA. On Friday night, Bandon picked up their first points of the new campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Quins B, but will have been disappointed not to leave with all three points. David Mills, recently returned from Australia, scored a virtuoso solo goal, riding three tackles en route from halfway before slotting home, but that was cancelled out by Rob Smith. Bandon had plenty of chances to win the game; Aaron Beamish ballooned over with a close-range drag while Fred McElroy saw a penalty stroke saved, but they’ll nonetheless be glad to have stopped the rot. Men Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: YMCA v Pembroke Wanderers, Milltown, 1.30pm; Monkstown v Railway Union, Rathdown, 2.30pm; Cork Harlequins v Banbridge, Harlequin Park, 2.30pm; Three Rock Rovers v Kilkeel, Grange Road, 2pm. Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins B v Bandon, Harlequin Park, 8.10pm, tonight; UCC v Cork C of I B, Mardyke, 1.30pm. Women Munster Div 1: Fermoy v Ashton, Loreto Fermoy, 12pm; Bandon v Limerick, Bandon Grammar, 1.30pm; Catholic Institute v Cork C of I, Rosbrien, 1.30pm.