Catholic Institute will bid to put a stop to the Cork Harlequins juggernaut as a heavyweight Munster clash gets underway at Rosbrien tomorrow (1pm).
The Limerick girls have been shorn of many of the stars of recent seasons – one of them, Roisin Upton, is bidding to become an American national champion as her UConn side go into the NCAA final four today – but have almost matched the champions stride for stride this season.
Their sole slip-up came at the Mardyke in a 2-1 loss to UCC, which means Quins can open up a six-point lead if they triumph tomorrow.
Orlagh Cotter tops the goalscoring charts and has been in scintillating form up front for the Cork ladies, with Naomi Carroll proving to be a similarly talismanic figure for Insta. Something has to give and Quins’ greater experience against an Insta outfit whose average age has lowered significantly over the past 12 months could swing things their way.
Meanwhile, the Irish Hockey Trophy gets underway this weekend with plenty of Munster interest.
UL, surprise semi-finalists last season given the rotten league campaign they endured in Munster, will hope to begin another epic cup run with victory over Our Lady’s in Limerick.
Cork C of I will be challenging themselves to be contenders at this level, although an away tie against a Muckross side going great guns under former Irish senior men’s coach David Passmore is not exactly appetising.
Bandon, currently in a rich vein of form in Munster, visit YMCA while Ashton – fresh from a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Fermoy on Tuesday night – host Cookstown hoping to erase memories of a hammering at the hands of another Ulster side, Belfast Harlequins, last season.
Ashton did all the damage in a 15-minute spell midway through the first half against Fermoy. An Aine Cummins penalty stroke started them off before Caroline McCarthy was allowed too much time and space to slot a corner rebound. McCarthy then blasted one to the bottom corner when Ashton won the ball in the press, and a rout looked on the cards.
But Trish Fitzpatrick’s short corner strike got Fermoy back into it on the stroke of half-time, and a much-improved second-half performance saw them occasionally take the game to the hosts, Aibhin O’Sullivan sending their best chance just wide of the post with a first-time effort from 10 metres.
Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 1: Women: YMCA v Bandon, Claremont Road, 1pm; Muckross v Cork C of I, St Teresians, 2pm; Newbridge v Omagh, St Mary’s School, 2pm; UL v Our Lady’s, UL, 2pm; Ballymena v Three Rock Ladies, Ballymena, 2.30pm; Dromore v Suttonians, Dromore, 2.30pm; North Down v Galway, Comber LC, 2.30pm; Portadown v Genesis, Portadown, 2.30pm; Banbridge v Naas, Havelock Park, 3pm; Ashton v Cookstown, Ashton School, Sunday, 2pm.
Meanwhile, the Irish Hockey Trophy gets underway this weekend with plenty of Munster interest.
UL, surprise semi-finalists last season given the rotten league campaign they endured in Munster, will hope to begin another epic cup run with victory over Our Lady’s in Limerick.
Cork C of I will be challenging themselves to be contenders at this level, although an away tie against a Muckross side going great guns under former Irish senior men’s coach David Passmore is not exactly appetising.
Bandon, currently in a rich vein of form in Munster, visit YMCA while Ashton – fresh from a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Fermoy on Tuesday night – host Cookstown hoping to erase memories of a hammering at the hands of another Ulster side, Belfast Harlequins, last season.
Ashton did all the damage in a 15-minute spell midway through the first half against Fermoy. An Aine Cummins penalty stroke started them off before Caroline McCarthy was allowed too much time and space to slot a corner rebound. McCarthy then blasted one to the bottom corner when Ashton won the ball in the press, and a rout looked on the cards.
But Trish Fitzpatrick’s short corner strike got Fermoy back into it on the stroke of half-time, and a much-improved second-half performance saw them occasionally take the game to the hosts, Aibhin O’Sullivan sending their best chance just wide of the post with a first-time effort from 10 metres.
Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 1: Women: YMCA v Bandon, Claremont Road, 1pm; Muckross v Cork C of I, St Teresians, 2pm; Newbridge v Omagh, St Mary’s School, 2pm; UL v Our Lady’s, UL, 2pm; Ballymena v Three Rock Ladies, Ballymena, 2.30pm; Dromore v Suttonians, Dromore, 2.30pm; North Down v Galway, Comber LC, 2.30pm; Portadown v Genesis, Portadown, 2.30pm; Banbridge v Naas, Havelock Park, 3pm; Ashton v Cookstown, Ashton School, Sunday, 2pm.