Which UCC side will turn up is the central question to a unique Peard Cup final pairing as they take on Cork Church of Ireland at Garryduff on St Stephen’s Day (2.30pm).
Neil Welch’s students have continued their steady rise up the ranks of Munster hockey by reaching a first Peard Cup final in modern times, ousting Cork Harlequins 2-1 in the semi-final a couple of weeks ago.
The streetsmarts, discipline and maturity of their performance, especially in a niggly second half that wasn’t easy on the eye, suggested College had taken another step forward.
However, a subsequent 3-0 defeat to Quins in the league last weekend – admittedly without coach Welch or key defender Adam O’Callaghan in situ – has set them back somewhat.
They will look to Ireland U21 panellist Gary Wilkinson, recently returned to the side after a foot injury, to inspire them against his old club.
C of I, who hammered the students 5-1 at the Mardyke earlier in the campaign, will be quietly confident they can do the necessary again despite a stop-start nature to their campaign in recent weeks.
The progress they had made came undone in a comprehensive 4-1 Irish Senior Cup defeat to Banbridge and they were far from at their best despite beating Bandon 4-0 in the semi-finals of this competition.
The upside is that Stephen Parker has been reintegrated following his return from a couple of seasons with YMCA, while 17-year-old Simon Wolfe is performing so well that he is currently involved with both the Ireland U18 and U21 panels.
Irish record goalscorer John Jermyn’s threat from play and set-pieces and the quick hands of Stephen Sweetnam are among the other factors which should help C of I defend their crown.
However, a subsequent 3-0 defeat to Quins in the league last weekend – admittedly without coach Welch or key defender Adam O’Callaghan in situ – has set them back somewhat.
They will look to Ireland U21 panellist Gary Wilkinson, recently returned to the side after a foot injury, to inspire them against his old club.
C of I, who hammered the students 5-1 at the Mardyke earlier in the campaign, will be quietly confident they can do the necessary again despite a stop-start nature to their campaign in recent weeks.
The progress they had made came undone in a comprehensive 4-1 Irish Senior Cup defeat to Banbridge and they were far from at their best despite beating Bandon 4-0 in the semi-finals of this competition.
The upside is that Stephen Parker has been reintegrated following his return from a couple of seasons with YMCA, while 17-year-old Simon Wolfe is performing so well that he is currently involved with both the Ireland U18 and U21 panels.
Irish record goalscorer John Jermyn’s threat from play and set-pieces and the quick hands of Stephen Sweetnam are among the other factors which should help C of I defend their crown.