Quins struggle to shake off C of I B

Another good performance in pushing one of the top three hard went unrewarded for the Garryduff second string, who again lost out by a single goal following the 4-3 reverse to UCC last weekend. Mark Holmes’s corner bash has cancelled out Hobbs’ first-half drag-flick but the centre-back’s second short corner effort, just after the break ensured his side took the spoils. C of I’s forays into the Quins circle were rare, but Phil Oakley would nonetheless have preferred his side to be comfortable winners on the scoreboard.

C of I firsts can gain some revenge when they take on Quins’ seconds tomorrow afternoon, with players from both clubs also set to be involved in the subsequent Andrew Chambers Memorial Match at 4.30pm. Elsewhere, Bandon and UCC’s first clash of the season has plenty of intrigue. The students finally broke a long hoodoo with a 1-0 win in west Cork last year that saw them finish above Bandon for the first time since Neil Welch took over four years ago. Bandon have since seen the heart ripped out of their side with a number of key players – including new UCC man Andrew Scannell – moving on, and so they might reasonably expect a long day at the Mardyke tomorrow. But despite their intervarsity victory, College have yet to fire on all cylinders and will need to improve on last weekend’s messy win over C of I’s seconds. Catholic Institute will be hoping their re-evaluation of their priorities begins to pay dividends as they begin their Irish Hockey Challenge campaign tomorrow. The Rosbrien men host St James’ Gate (3pm) in their first clash in the third-tier national competition, having chosen to demote themselves from Munster’s Division One over the summer. That decision was taken following a couple of seasons of heavy defeats domestically, and they are thus far unbeaten in Division 2 with 16 goals scored in three outings. The IHC represents a trip into the unknown – until this season, Institute competed a rung above in the Irish Trophy – but they will start among the title favourites and can reasonably expect to do well against a side toiling in Leinster’s Division 5. Irish Hockey Challenge Rd 1: Ballymena v Omagh, Ballymena, 1pm; Cliftonville v Portrush, Cliftonville, 1pm; Saintfield v Portrane, Saintfield, 1pm; PSNI v Naas, Stormont, 2.30pm; Catholic Institute v St James Gate, Rosbrien, 3pm; Mullingar v Wicklow, Weston, 3.45pm. Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins B v Cork C of I, Farmer’s Cross, 1.30pm; UCC v Bandon, 2.30pm.