Can Crowley inspire UCC again?

UCC’s women will hope they can cap a memorable week for the student club by defeating Ards at the Mardyke tomorrow (1.30pm) and securing a rare Irish Senior Cup finals weekend appearance. Paidi Hartnett’s side — who warmed up with a comfortable 5-0 league win over Ashton on Tuesday night — will have their work cut out against the northerners, who are on a high after defeating some more illustrious opponents to retain the National Indoor Trophy last weekend. But College can rightly claim to be a more rounded side than the last time they met the northerners, a 2-1 win in the 2011 IHL wildcard playoffs at Garryduff. Miriam Crowley scored a belter of an upright reverse that day and a repeat of that trick from the Irish international hitwoman would go down very nicely for Munster’s last hope in this competition.

It’s one of three quarter-final ties taking place tomorrow, with Railway Union hosting Hermes in a Dublin derby while holders UCD reprise their 2009 final clash with Pegasus. Ballymoney are already in the last four by virtue of their 2-1 victory over Corinthian last December. The pick of the three women’s Division One ties sees Ashton go to Farmer’s Cross in a bid to become the first side to take points off Cork Harlequins. That loss to UCC on Tuesday night won’t have done much for their confidence but they remain a difficult outfit to break down under Alan Dobson. Quins are on a high after nine wins from nine but their relatively small squad has been pushed to the limit by injury and illness recently, although Cliodhna Sargent and Claire Bergin should be fighting fit again after being hampered by illness in last weekend’s successful double-header. UL are increasingly desperate for points and host an in-form C of I. The visitors could face a backlash with UL still seething at twice seeing leads erased before they crashed to Limerick last weekend, but Amy Roberts, Ali O’Regan and Ali O’Connor have been flying for the Garryduff girls who themselves will want to return to winning ways after being edged out by Quins last week. Elsewhere, Catholic Institute are very unlikely to slip up at home to basement side Fermoy, and will be looking to rediscover that winning feeling after their galling Irish Senior Cup defeat to Pegasus on home turf. Cork Harlequins have a chance for instant revenge over UCC in tomorrow’s men’s Munster Senior Cup semi-finals tomorrow, the third visit to Farmer’s Cross for UCC in just eight days. Neil Welch’s students stole two points in a famous 3-3 draw on Tuesday night, but will need to manage their resources carefully as they also play Bandon in a league clash on Sunday, while their seconds are also in Munster Junior Cup action against Quins B tomorrow. C of I will be unbackable favourites against Bandon in the other last four tie. The hosts’ Simon Wolfe and Alex Burns are celebrating Ireland U18 call-ups for the forthcoming U21 interpros, while Bandon utility man Colin Kingston was named as a reserve for that tournament and may yet get a chance to prove his worth to Graham Shaw should he get a call-up from Munster U21 coach Neil Welch. SATURDAY Men’s Munster Senior Cup semi-finals: Cork Harlequins v UCC, Farmer’s Cross, 2pm; Cork C of I v Bandon, Garryduff, 2.30pm; Men’s Munster Junior Cup Rd 1: Cork C of I v B v Catholic Institute, Garryduff, 12pm; Cork Harlequins B v UCC B, Farmer’s Cross, 4pm. Women’s Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup Rd 3: UCC v Ards, Mardyke, 1pm; UCD v Pegasus, Belfield, 1pm; Railway Union v Hermes, Park Avenue, 2.45pm. Women’s Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins v Ashton, Farmer’s Cross, 12.30pm; Catholic Institute v Fermoy, Rosbrien, 1pm; UL vs Cork C of I, UL, 1pm. SUNDAY Men’s Munster Div 1: Bandon v UCC, 1.30pm. Men’s Munster Junior Cup Rd 1: Limerick vs Galway, Villiers, TBC.