Bandon seek to shock ‘rusty’ Quins

Bandon will be hoping to take advantage of Cork Harlequins’ rustiness and injury problems to take a noteworthy Peard Cup scalp in a repeat of last season’s final at Bandon Grammar School tomorrow (1.30pm). Quins have been hit hardest by the interruptions to the club season caused by underage interpros and intervarsities competitions in recent weeks, and haven’t had a hit-out since their 11-0 thrashing of their own second team on September 26. Adding to the problems for Stephen Dale’s side are the mounting injury concerns. Goalkeeper Chris Daunt and Colin Ross are both long-term injury victims, and they were joined on the sidelines last week by Sean Nicholson, who underwent a knee cartilage operation.

With fellow former Irish internationals Paul Lombard and Jason Black also doubtful for tomorrow’s quarter-final, the likes of Darren Farrell and Brian Hayes Curtain may be asked to step in. Bandon were poor in their 5-0 loss to Quins on the opening day of the season, and once again played within themselves in the 2-1 win over C of I B. Nonetheless, they will be buoyed by the fact that Darren Beamish and Ali Smith both played themselves into some impressive form during the varsities with Cork IT in Belfast this week, although recent signing Andrew Scannell is not available this week. UCC have the weekend off following their varsities exploits, leaving just two men’s Division One fixtures. Champions C of I are unlikely to have much difficulty seeing off Quins B, but their seconds will not relish their visit to Catholic Institute, who have been a much-improved side this season. UCC’s women will play their sixth game in as many days when they travel to Ashton. The hosts have displayed plenty of upward mobility since they were trounced 7-1 by the students in September, but could face a backlash after College’s emotional varsity semi-final defeat to UU Elks. Cork Harlequins head west for Bandon, a side they have rarely had an easy time against in recent years. The formbook suggests they should nonetheless be too strong – Karen Bateman can’t stop scoring at the moment and Sinead McCarthy is growing more dominant in her sweeper role with each outing – while Bandon’s recent 3-1 Examiner Cup win over Ashton was their first of the season. Catholic Institute will be confident of extending their 100% record in their second Limerick derby of the campaign against UL, while for Cork C of I, attention turns to the Irish Junior Cup, where they are pitted against Galway in a round one tie at Garryduff. Men Peard Cup quarter-final: Bandon vs Cork Harlequins, 1.30pm, Bandon GS; Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins B vs Cork C of I, 1pm, Harlequin Park; Catholic Institute vs Cork C of I B, 12pm, Rosbrien; Women ESB Irish Junior Cup Rd 1: Cork C of I vs Galway, 2pm, Garryduff; Munster Div 1: UL vs Catholic Institute, 1.30pm, UL; Bandon vs Cork Harlequins, 11.30am, Bandon GS; Ashton vs UCC, 12.30pm, Ashton School.