Duo add another chapter to rivalry

Domestic matters in Munster are once again focused on a meeting between Cork Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins, who lock horns for the final time this season on Saturday. The clubs met in four men’s cup finals last weekend with C of I coming out on top in each, but the league meeting of their respective first-string sides at Garryduff (12.30pm) is a potential title decider. Quins hold all the aces having won the reverse fixture 5-4, and if they avoid defeat here, a win against Bandon in their final game will see them claim the title for the first time since 2006 and stop a C of I five-in-a-row. Despite gaining a modicum of revenge by seeing off Quins 2-0 in the Peard Cup decider, the pressure is all on C of I, here. This is particularly true given they will also have to play a fired-up UCC 24 hours later in their final league game, with the students desperately searching for a shock victory which could keep their flagging Irish Hockey League qualification hopes alive. The situation is complicated further by a clash between UCC and C of I’s seconds on Saturday, meaning tired bodies and potential mistakes that could prove crucial. Meanwhile, Ashton will be determined to end a productive season with silverware as they take on Bandon in the women’s Division One Plate final. George Treacy’s side suffered Examiner Cup final heartbreak at the hands of Galway and were cruelly dismissed at the semi-final stage of the Irish Trophy by Portadown, meaning they will not want to leave a third trophy opportunity slip through their fingers. Bandon have also been in sterling form and will be slight favourites, as they once again look to Hilary Chapple to be their attacking fulcrum. Quins and C of I clash in the women’s league on Tuesday night at Harlequin Park, where victory for the former will bring them another step closer to second place and an automatic IHL qualification spot. Quins lie four points off UCC with two games in hand as the students have finished their campaign; should they see off C of I, they’ll also end Bandon’s faint hopes of claiming third place and an IHL wildcard playoff berth — which could tilt the balance in their favour when they travel to west Cork for the final fixture of the season next week. Further afield, Monkstown hope to shed the title of nearly men this weekend by annexing a first Irish Senior Cup in almost 100 years at Belfield this weekend. With the semi-finals and final now taking place over one weekend for the first time, Irish hockey’s great entertainers will be hoping to take full advantage. The last time the Dun Laoghaire outfit claimed glory was in 1914, while they have also lost two of the past three finals. Their opponents, Banbridge, are also looking to end a long wait — they last won it in 1986, while Cookstown, who face Annadale in an all-Ulster clash in the other semi-final, claimed it a year late. Belfast side ‘Dale have never laid hands on the trophy. The highlight of the women’s semi-finals sees Pegasus in revenge mode against UCD. The students stunned the Belfast kingpins 4-1 in the 2009 decider, and while the inevitable turnover of a college side sees them with an all-new lineup, Pegasus’ old guard of Suzanne Beaney, Claire McMahon and Arlene Boyles won’t have forgotten the pain of that defeat. In the other semi-final, an Irish international-laden Hermes side must attempt to handle the mantle of favourites against the tournament’s surprise package Ballymoney. The latter are in transition but have nonetheless scalped UCC, Catholic Institute and Old Alex en route to the semi-finals, and are led with aplomb by former Irish international centre back Bridget Cleland. Irish Senior Cup finals weekend, Belfield Saturday: Women: Pegasus v UCD (10.30am); Ballymoney v Hermes (12.30pm); Men: Banbridge v Monkstown (3pm); Cookstown v Annadale (5pm). Sunday: Women’s final (1pm); Men’s final (3.30pm). Munster (All games Saturday unless stated) Men’s Div 1: Cork C of I v Cork Harlequins (Garryduff, 12.30pm); UCC v Cork C of I B (Mardyke, 2pm); UCC v Cork C of I A (Sunday, Mardyke, 1pm); Women’s Div 1 Plate final: Ashton v Bandon (Harlequin Park, 2pm).