Cork Harlequins hope Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman can continue to defy Father Time as they face a make-or-break Irish Hockey League clash with Ards at Farmer’s Cross tomorrow (1.30pm).
Both players aren’t far from their fifth decade but such has been their impact since returning to Stephen Dale’s lineup this year, Ireland coach Darren Smith has been among their admirers.
Bateman and Kohler both had decorated Irish international careers in the 1990s and early 2000s but stepped away from the game in recent years to start families.
Their return to Quins colours this year was supposed to be limited to some action with the second team, but the duo remain as skilful as ever and their remarkable fitness levels have seen them become key first-team players once again.
They proved they can still dictate games at the highest level, impressing Smith during the IHL clash with Loreto in Dublin last Saturday before playing major roles in Quins’ Irish Junior Cup win over Cork C of I 24 hours later.
Quins led Loreto 2-0 but went on to lose 4-2, the departure of Irish international defender Cliodhna Sargent through injury a major factor. She is hopeful of playing more than half the game this time out while they will also have Ireland U18 schemer Abby Oakes, Alex O’Grady and Katie O’Neill available after all three Leaving Cert students missed the trip to Dublin with study commitments.
Tomorrow’s opponents Ards are easily Ireland’s most-improved side, dominating the indoor scene and reaching an Irish Senior Cup semi-final last year, and are favourites to top Pool A. Chloe Brown, a hat-trick hero in the 4-0 thumping of Ballymoney in round one and scorer of 23 goals in five European indoor championships games, is their key fulcrum.
In Pool B, Catholic Institute know they will have to take some big steps up if they are to challenge Irish Senior Cup holders UCD at Rosbrien.
Institute laboured to a 3-1 win over competition debutants Greenfields last week and face the unenviable task of shackling a UCD outfit that are almost all internationals and have Leinster league and Irish Senior Cup medals in their back pockets already this term.
Damage limitation is the priority for Cork Harlequins men as they hit the road again to face Cookstown. While not taking on the same quality of opposition as the Three Rock Rovers side that thumped them 11-0 in round one, Quins are shy on quality and have a number of regulars absent so will likely be on the back foot again.
Cork Church of Ireland will be keen to recover from a 7-2 loss in Banbridge when they travel to Corinthian. The scoreline was harsh on the Garryduff men who were chasing the game after a lightning Bann start and spent half the game with 10 players after Stephen Parker’s contentious red card.
They’ll hope for better at Whitechurch; Corinthian laboured in mid-table in Leinster this year and haven’t qualified for next year’s IHL but have twin drag-flick threats in Matt Fairweather and Matt Brown while South African international Jethro Eustace is the jewel in their crown.
Elsewhere, it’s a big weekend for Bandon as their hunt for national silverware continues with a home Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-final against North Down.
The return of former Ireland panellists Ali Smith and Clinton Sweetnam to the fold has provided them with a major boost while Munster U18 captain Colin Kingston leads a glut of promising youngsters that should have enough in the tank to earn a last fourth berth.
Cork C of I’s women are also on the trophy trail in the last eight of the women’s competition; Rathgar away will hold no fears for them after a handy win in Avoca in the earlier rounds. Amy Roberts is unlikely to repeat her six-goal haul against UL last week but will be the primary goal threat while Kate Humphries’ runs from midfield are another element of the C of I style to look out for.
Saturday
Men
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Cookstown v Cork Harlequins, Steelweld Park, 2.30pm; Instonians v Three Rock Rovers, Shawsbridge, 2.40pm; Lisnagarvey v Pembroke Wanderers, Comber Road, 2.45pm; Pool B: Corinthian v Cork C of I, Whitechurch Park, 2.45pm; Monkstown v Annadale, Rathdown, 3pm; Banbridge v UCD, Havelock Park, 4.30pm.
Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-finals: Bandon v North Down, Bandon Grammar, 1pm; Kilkenny v Clontarf, Kilkenny College, 1pm; Portadown v Queens University, Portadown, 1pm; Newry v Avoca, Newry, 2.30pm.
Women
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Lurgan v Greenfields, Lurgan College, 1pm; Catholic Institute v UCD, Rosbrien, 2pm; Pool B: Cork Harlequins v Ards, Farmer’s Cross, 1.30pm; Ballymoney v Pegasus, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm; Old Alex v Loreto, Milltown, 2.30pm.
Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-finals: Larne v NUIG, Larne, 1pm; Rathgar v Cork C of I, High School, 2.15pm; Ballymena v North Down, Ballymena, 2.30pm; Cookstown v Naas, Steelweld Park, 4pm.
Munster Div 1: Limerick v Fermoy, Villiers, 1.30pm.
Sunday
Women
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Hermes v Railway Union, St Andrew’s, 2pm; Munster Div 1: Bandon v Limerick, Bandon Grammar, 12pm.
They proved they can still dictate games at the highest level, impressing Smith during the IHL clash with Loreto in Dublin last Saturday before playing major roles in Quins’ Irish Junior Cup win over Cork C of I 24 hours later.
Quins led Loreto 2-0 but went on to lose 4-2, the departure of Irish international defender Cliodhna Sargent through injury a major factor. She is hopeful of playing more than half the game this time out while they will also have Ireland U18 schemer Abby Oakes, Alex O’Grady and Katie O’Neill available after all three Leaving Cert students missed the trip to Dublin with study commitments.
Tomorrow’s opponents Ards are easily Ireland’s most-improved side, dominating the indoor scene and reaching an Irish Senior Cup semi-final last year, and are favourites to top Pool A. Chloe Brown, a hat-trick hero in the 4-0 thumping of Ballymoney in round one and scorer of 23 goals in five European indoor championships games, is their key fulcrum.
In Pool B, Catholic Institute know they will have to take some big steps up if they are to challenge Irish Senior Cup holders UCD at Rosbrien.
Institute laboured to a 3-1 win over competition debutants Greenfields last week and face the unenviable task of shackling a UCD outfit that are almost all internationals and have Leinster league and Irish Senior Cup medals in their back pockets already this term.
Damage limitation is the priority for Cork Harlequins men as they hit the road again to face Cookstown. While not taking on the same quality of opposition as the Three Rock Rovers side that thumped them 11-0 in round one, Quins are shy on quality and have a number of regulars absent so will likely be on the back foot again.
Cork Church of Ireland will be keen to recover from a 7-2 loss in Banbridge when they travel to Corinthian. The scoreline was harsh on the Garryduff men who were chasing the game after a lightning Bann start and spent half the game with 10 players after Stephen Parker’s contentious red card.
They’ll hope for better at Whitechurch; Corinthian laboured in mid-table in Leinster this year and haven’t qualified for next year’s IHL but have twin drag-flick threats in Matt Fairweather and Matt Brown while South African international Jethro Eustace is the jewel in their crown.
Elsewhere, it’s a big weekend for Bandon as their hunt for national silverware continues with a home Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-final against North Down.
The return of former Ireland panellists Ali Smith and Clinton Sweetnam to the fold has provided them with a major boost while Munster U18 captain Colin Kingston leads a glut of promising youngsters that should have enough in the tank to earn a last fourth berth.
Cork C of I’s women are also on the trophy trail in the last eight of the women’s competition; Rathgar away will hold no fears for them after a handy win in Avoca in the earlier rounds. Amy Roberts is unlikely to repeat her six-goal haul against UL last week but will be the primary goal threat while Kate Humphries’ runs from midfield are another element of the C of I style to look out for.
Saturday
Men
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Cookstown v Cork Harlequins, Steelweld Park, 2.30pm; Instonians v Three Rock Rovers, Shawsbridge, 2.40pm; Lisnagarvey v Pembroke Wanderers, Comber Road, 2.45pm; Pool B: Corinthian v Cork C of I, Whitechurch Park, 2.45pm; Monkstown v Annadale, Rathdown, 3pm; Banbridge v UCD, Havelock Park, 4.30pm.
Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-finals: Bandon v North Down, Bandon Grammar, 1pm; Kilkenny v Clontarf, Kilkenny College, 1pm; Portadown v Queens University, Portadown, 1pm; Newry v Avoca, Newry, 2.30pm.
Women
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Lurgan v Greenfields, Lurgan College, 1pm; Catholic Institute v UCD, Rosbrien, 2pm; Pool B: Cork Harlequins v Ards, Farmer’s Cross, 1.30pm; Ballymoney v Pegasus, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm; Old Alex v Loreto, Milltown, 2.30pm.
Irish Hockey Trophy quarter-finals: Larne v NUIG, Larne, 1pm; Rathgar v Cork C of I, High School, 2.15pm; Ballymena v North Down, Ballymena, 2.30pm; Cookstown v Naas, Steelweld Park, 4pm.
Munster Div 1: Limerick v Fermoy, Villiers, 1.30pm.
Sunday
Women
Irish Hockey League Rd 2: Pool A: Hermes v Railway Union, St Andrew’s, 2pm; Munster Div 1: Bandon v Limerick, Bandon Grammar, 12pm.