Shaw aiming for another historic double

Graham Shaw will again be Irish hockey’s supreme multi-tasker as he hopes to coach two teams to Irish Hockey League glory this weekend. Shaw, who has more than 150 Irish caps to his name, wrote himself into the history books in 2010 when he coached Loreto to victory in the women’s Irish Senior Cup final before putting in a man-of-the-match performance for Glenanne in winning the men’s decider. He became the first person to be on the winning side in two ISC finals on the same day, and could achieve a similar landmark as he leads both Loreto’s women and Monkstown’s men into the IHL semi-finals at Grange Road tomorrow. Loreto take on the season’s surprise package Ards in their last four tie, the Ulster girls having ousted Ballymoney to qualify. They also reached an ISC semi-final and are the national indoor champions, but Loreto will start as favourites having seen off Railway Union, Pegasus and Hermes to top the pool of death.

UCD meet Railway Union in the other last four clash, in a repeat of the ISC final that Railway won 3-2. The Park Avenue girls have had something of a hoodoo over the talented students this season, coming from 4-0 down to draw a memorable league clash 4-4 before a brilliantly controlled performance won the ISC final 3-2. But the Belfield girls won out against Railway to take the Leinster title and will look to their trio of Irish international taliswomen Chloe Watkins, Anna O’Flanagan and Nikki Evans to deliver the goals they crave. Monkstown are the only side who can prevent there being another Ulster winner of the men’s IHL as they meet holders Lisnagarvey, with Shaw taking on a player/coach role. Banbridge’s meeting with Cookstown in the other semi-final couldn’t be closer to call. Of their three games this year each has won once with the third drawn, though Bann have a slight psychological advantage having won the Ulster league for the first time in five years at the Tyrone men’s expense. The finals will take place on Sunday with a European place the carrot for the winners, particularly the men’s as it provides a place in the increasingly popular EuroHockey League. Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey League (all at Grange Road) Semi-finals (Saturday): Loreto vs Ards, 10.30am; Railway Union vs UCD, 12.30pm Sunday, final: 1.30pm IHL Wildcard playoff (Saturday): Old Alex vs Ulster Elks, 1pm, Milltown Men’s Irish Hockey League (all at Grange Road) Saturday’s semi-finals: Lisnagarvey vs Monkstown, 3pm; Banbridge vs Cookstown, 5pm Sunday, final: 4pm