A sizeable proportion of the Munster hockey community is decamping to Belfield this weekend as four of the province’s teams go chasing Irish cup glory.
Cork Church of Ireland’s women are first up as they bid to become the second Munster winners of the Irish Hockey Trophy, taking on North Down in the decider tomorrow (1pm).
Eddie Kirwan’s side consolidated fourth place in Munster this year but have saved their best for the national stage, winning four times on the road at Muckross (1-0), Avoca (4-1), Rathgar (3-2) and most impressively in the semi-finals against NUIG (5-0).
Amy Roberts, Ali O’Regan and Jen Hales are among their totems while Emma Rumley and Emma Barber lead a clutch of talented schoolgirls in the Garryduff side, who have never contested an Irish final before.
Bandon’s men are also chasing a first national title as they go to to toe with Newry in the men’s IHT final (5pm). Irish-capped Alastair Smith – scorer of a hat-trick in the 3-1 semi-final win over Clontarf – and Ireland A international Clinton Sweetnam provide the star quality for them, having made a significant impact since their returns to the club from C of I and UCD respectively.
Graham Kingston was coaxed out of retirement this year too and is an unpredictable asset up front, while Ian Hosford is a commanding presence between the sticks.
Making it an even bigger day for hockey in West Cork is Clonakilty’s presence in the women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final, where they’ll take on Botanic (3pm).
The club is just finishing their third season having been founded in 2011, and have already won silverware in Munster despite their fledgling status, guided by coach Melvin Beamish.
Former Munster senior star Hilary Chapple and current Munster Juniors Freda Buttimer, Trish Moloney and Cathy McCarthy will pull the strings for the club who have this week been humbled by the support from their community, with numerous signs and banners adorning the town.
Limerick’s men hope to continue their remarkable campaign by nailing down the IHC title, having been beaten in the 2010 decider by St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park.
Portrush are the opposition this time around, with the Treaty men better equipped for the fight this time around. Munster underage representatives David Cardy, Nathan Eacrett and Jonny Powell form a lethal attacking threat alongside Roger Clarke and one of the province’s top scorers, Cathal Duggan.
They will nonetheless need to tighten up at the back to succeed here; they lost last weekend’s Munster Junior Cup final 6-3 to local rivals Catholic Institute and also conceded six in a Cork Cup semi-final defeat at home to UCC.
Elsewhere, it’s Irish Junior Cup finals weekend with Pembroke Wanderers looking for a rare double over UCD (women) and Monkstown (men), Munster interest coming in the form of David Quinn and Scott Sullivan who will line out for the Dublin 4 outfit.
This weekend also sees the final qualifiers for next year’s Irish Hockey League decided. The women’s wildcard playoffs see Catholic Institute host NUIG tomorrow with a victory taking them into a decider against Old Alex or Ulster Elks on Sunday. The men’s is a straight shootout between Cork Harlequins and Annadale on neutral turf in Milltown, Dublin on Sunday.
Saturday
Irish cup finals, UCD, Belfield
Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: Cork C of I v North Down, 1pm; Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Botanic v Clonakilty, 3pm; Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: Bandon v Newry, 5pm.
Women’s Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs
Semi-finals: Catholic Institute v NUIG, Rosbrien, 12.30pm; Ulster Elks v Old Alex, UUJ, 2pm.
Sunday
Irish cup finals, UCD, Belfield
Women’s Irish Junior Cup final: UCD v Pembroke Wanderers, 12pm; Men’s Irish Junior Cup final: Pembroke Wanderers v Monkstown, 2pm; Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Portrush v Limerick, 4pm.
Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs, Old Alexandra HC, Milltown, Dublin
Men’s final: Cork Harlequins v Annadale, 1.30pm; Women’s final: Old Alex/Ulster Elks v Catholic Institute/NUIG, 3.30pm.
Amy Roberts, Ali O’Regan and Jen Hales are among their totems while Emma Rumley and Emma Barber lead a clutch of talented schoolgirls in the Garryduff side, who have never contested an Irish final before.
Bandon’s men are also chasing a first national title as they go to to toe with Newry in the men’s IHT final (5pm). Irish-capped Alastair Smith – scorer of a hat-trick in the 3-1 semi-final win over Clontarf – and Ireland A international Clinton Sweetnam provide the star quality for them, having made a significant impact since their returns to the club from C of I and UCD respectively.
Graham Kingston was coaxed out of retirement this year too and is an unpredictable asset up front, while Ian Hosford is a commanding presence between the sticks.
Making it an even bigger day for hockey in West Cork is Clonakilty’s presence in the women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final, where they’ll take on Botanic (3pm).
The club is just finishing their third season having been founded in 2011, and have already won silverware in Munster despite their fledgling status, guided by coach Melvin Beamish.
Former Munster senior star Hilary Chapple and current Munster Juniors Freda Buttimer, Trish Moloney and Cathy McCarthy will pull the strings for the club who have this week been humbled by the support from their community, with numerous signs and banners adorning the town.
Limerick’s men hope to continue their remarkable campaign by nailing down the IHC title, having been beaten in the 2010 decider by St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park.
Portrush are the opposition this time around, with the Treaty men better equipped for the fight this time around. Munster underage representatives David Cardy, Nathan Eacrett and Jonny Powell form a lethal attacking threat alongside Roger Clarke and one of the province’s top scorers, Cathal Duggan.
They will nonetheless need to tighten up at the back to succeed here; they lost last weekend’s Munster Junior Cup final 6-3 to local rivals Catholic Institute and also conceded six in a Cork Cup semi-final defeat at home to UCC.
Elsewhere, it’s Irish Junior Cup finals weekend with Pembroke Wanderers looking for a rare double over UCD (women) and Monkstown (men), Munster interest coming in the form of David Quinn and Scott Sullivan who will line out for the Dublin 4 outfit.
This weekend also sees the final qualifiers for next year’s Irish Hockey League decided. The women’s wildcard playoffs see Catholic Institute host NUIG tomorrow with a victory taking them into a decider against Old Alex or Ulster Elks on Sunday. The men’s is a straight shootout between Cork Harlequins and Annadale on neutral turf in Milltown, Dublin on Sunday.
Saturday
Irish cup finals, UCD, Belfield
Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: Cork C of I v North Down, 1pm; Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Botanic v Clonakilty, 3pm; Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: Bandon v Newry, 5pm.
Women’s Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs
Semi-finals: Catholic Institute v NUIG, Rosbrien, 12.30pm; Ulster Elks v Old Alex, UUJ, 2pm.
Sunday
Irish cup finals, UCD, Belfield
Women’s Irish Junior Cup final: UCD v Pembroke Wanderers, 12pm; Men’s Irish Junior Cup final: Pembroke Wanderers v Monkstown, 2pm; Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Portrush v Limerick, 4pm.
Irish Hockey League wildcard playoffs, Old Alexandra HC, Milltown, Dublin
Men’s final: Cork Harlequins v Annadale, 1.30pm; Women’s final: Old Alex/Ulster Elks v Catholic Institute/NUIG, 3.30pm.