C of I enter last chance saloon

Cork Church of Ireland and UCC carry Munster’s national  hopes on their shoulders this weekend, as they face pivotal cup ties against interprovincial opposition. C of I host Cookstown in a rearraged Irish Senior Cup tie (Garryduff, 1.30pm) knowing this represents their best chance of progress on the Irish stage, following last weekend’s IHL mauling at the hands of Glenanne. With Leinster’s Glens, Pembroke and YMCA all having exited this competition, C of I have only Lisnagarvey to truly fear, while there is the carrott of a home quarter-final with Fingal should they advance here.

Billy Lynch’s continued good form between the sticks and Jermyn’s recent scoring record from play and corners are the major pluses for them, while Philip Sweetnam has also emerged to become a prominent figure in recent weeks. Cookstown will, as usual, be no cannon fodder however. They have lost the mercurial talents of David Ames to English side Beeston but have plenty of young charges aiming to take his place in Ian Sloan, Stephen Sloan and Mark Crooks. And they have a bone to pick with C of I, who raided their Coolnafranky fortress earlier this year in the IHL, John Jermyn’s hat-trick doing the business in a 3-2 win. The Tyrone outfit have been nothing if not inconsistent, shocking Pembroke at home in the ISC’s round one and drawing with Lisnagarvey in the league, as well as being hammered by Banbridge and going down at Corinthians in the IHL last weekend. Their talisman Thomas Hutchinson is nonetheless motivated by the shot that a wide-open ISC offers at EuroHockey League qualification. “With Pembroke and Glenanne already out of the cup, it is wide open, and we mightn’t get a better chance to make it to Europe,” he told the Belfast Telegraph. “I scored in my last two appearances against Cork, so I’m hoping I can make it a hat-trick and this time get the win too.” Meanwhile, in the men’s Irish Trophy, UCC meet Rathgar Chiefs in the quarter-finals, having earned themselves a dark horses tag after brilliantly seeing off Ulster’s Raphoe in Donegal last week. They will hope to repeat the feat against a dangerous Chiefs outfit, who must do without the suspended Dan Needham and recently-emigrated top scorer Paul Tuthill and Aengus Stanley. Domestically, Catholic Institute will hope they can put an end to their wretched recent league run as they visit Cork C of I B.

The Limerick lads haven’t picked up a league point since a 2-2 draw with Quins B back in September, and have mostly endured chastening heavy defeats since. Cork Harlequins’ Sunday morning visit to Bandon will provide an intriguing test of the former’s title credentials. Quins traditionally do well in west Cork, largely thanks to Bandon’s tendency to give away too many corners against the top sides; Dan Hobbs scored four here on one occasion recently, and David Eakins will be primed to do likewise. Bandon will be well up for this one, however. Their 3-1 ISC defeat to NICS up north will still rankle, but they may benefit from showing more patience in their build-up play here. Ali Smith will be champing at the bit to use his pace against the Quins defence having endured a relative goal drought recently, while Andrew Scannell will, conversely, be hoping to continue his recent purple patch. Saturday Irish Senior Cup Rd 2: Cork C of I v Cookstown (Garryduff, 1.30pm); Irish Trophy quarter-finals: Rathgar Chiefs v UCC (High School, 2pm); South Antrim v Antrim (Laurelhill Sportszone, 2.30pm); Navan v Clontarf (Kings Hospital, 2.30pm); Belfast Harlequins v Portadown (Deramore Park, 2.30pm). Munster Div 1: Cork C of I B v Catholic Institute (Garryduff, 3.30pm); Sunday Munster Div 1: Bandon vs Cork Harlequins (Bandon GS, 11am)