Holders C of I face IJC baptism of fire

Cork Church of Ireland face a daunting opening to the defence of the men’s Irish Junior Cup title they won in such style last season, as they must hit the road for a round one clash with Banbridge on November 28. C of I had some notable wins on the road en route to their glorious hammering of Pembroke in the final – the 4-3 victory over Cookstown at Coolnafranky in the last four was a highlight – but with the exodus of players during the summer, a trip to Havelock Park will hardly be an enticing prospect. The majority of Munster’s other representatives must also hit the road in round one; Cork Harlequins will face Belfast Harlequins away, with Catholic Institute – currently cutting a swathe in Division Three – heading to Fingal.

Bandon are the sole side with a home tie, with NICS coming to west Cork, while UCC weren’t permitted to enter this year’s competition after failing to fulfil their round one fixture away to Weston last season. The women’s IJC has thrown up an intriguing all-Cork tie, with Quins playing host to UCC in round two. Cork C of I have drawn the short straw as one of six teams who must take part in round one on Hallowe’en, though they will have home advantage against Galway with the winner hosting UCD. Catholic Institute have one of the longest treks of all as they head to Coleraine, but fortune has smiled on Bandon, who will be at home to Ards. UCC and Catholic Institute are once again Munster’s representatives in the Irish Hockey Trophy, where they reached the last eight and the last four respectively last term. College will be looking to reprise their 2-1 win at Cliftonville last term when they visit Belfast Harlequins, while Institute will welcome Newry to Rosbrien. Bandon, Waterford and last year’s beaten finalists Institute have all received byes to round two in the women’s competition, while Ashton are lumbered with a round one trip to Avoca. The Irish Hockey Challenge sees some of Irish hockey’s smaller clubs do battle on the national stage; Limerick and Ashton are playing the flag for Munster in the men’s tournament, but both face arduous away journeys, to Omagh and Campbellians respectively. Dungarvan will host Monkstown in round one of the women’s tournament, with the winners having the carrot of home advantage against either Derg Valley or Greenfields in the second round. Clonmel, Tipperary, Limerick, Mallow and Fermoy are already there, and the latter two will be happiest with the draw. Last year’s finalists Fermoy have unfinished business in this competition after losing last year’s final on penalty strokes, and they begin their campaign with a home tie against Wexford. Mallow are at home to Kilkenny, but Clonmel must go to Athlone, Limerick to Renmore and Tipperary to Enniscorthy. Men’s Irish Junior Cup First round (November 28): Weston II vs Mossley II; Portadown II vs Newry II; Kilkeel II vs South Antrim II; Banbridge II vs Cork C of I II; Clontarf II vs Cookstown II; Instonians II vs TRR II; Bandon II vs NICS II; Belfast HQ II vs Cork HQ II; North Down II vs YMCA II; Pembroke II vs Corinthian II; Fingal II vs Catholic Inst II; Bangor II vs Raphoe II; Glenanne II vs Annadale II; Monkstown II vs UCD II; Railway Union II vs Antrim II; Lisnagarvey II vs Dublin Uni II

ESB Women’s Irish Junior Cup Round One (October 31): Cork C of I II vs Galway II; Hermes II vs NICS II; Pegasus II vs Randalstown II; Round Two (November 14): Clontarf II vs TRL II; Priorians II vs Loreto II; Lurgan II vs Ashton II; Coleraine II vs Catholic Institute II; Greenisland II vs Dromore II; Corinthian II vs Lisnagarvey II; Cork HQ II vs UCC II; Cork C of I II/Galway II vs UCD II; Bray II vs Armagh II; Pembroke W II vs Railway Union II; Bandon II vs Ards II; Belfast HQ II vs Dublin University II; Pegasus II/Randalstown II vs Ulster Elks II; UL II vs Genesis II; Hermes II/NICS II vs Glenanne II; Portadown II vs Old Alex II Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy Round One (November 7): Armagh vs Weston; Down vs South Antrim; Round Two (November 21): Queens vs Portadown; Suttonians vs South Antrim/Down; Belfast HQ vs UCC; Antrim vs Dublin University; Catholic Inst vs Newry; NICS vs Avoca; Navan vs Cliftonville; Armagh/Weston vs Galway ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy Round One (November 7): Banbridge vs Weston; Queens vs Genesis; NUIG vs Clontarf; Avoca vs Ashton; Kilkenny vs Galway; Parkview vs Coleraine; North Kildare vs Kilkeel; Newbridge vs Carrickfergus; Knock vs Botanic; Byes to round two (November 21): Naas, Dromore, Diocesan, Muckross, Waterford, Wexford, Ballymena, TRL, Yeats County, Omagh, NICS, Cookstown, Fingal, Greenisland, Bandon, North Down, Suttonians, Portadown, Greenfields, Our Ladys Terenure, Cath Institute, Skerries, Priorians Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge Round One (January 23): Skerries vs Portrane; Mullingar vs St James Gate; Round Two (February 13): Omagh vs Limerick; Saintfield vs Ballymena; Portrush vs PSNI; Naas vs Ballynahinch; St Brendans/PP vs Kilkenny; Parkview vs Larne; Mullingar/St James Gate vs Skerries/Portrane; Campbellians vs Ashton ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge Round One (November 28): Dungarvan vs Monkstown; Derg Valley vs Greenfields; Round Two (January 23): Athlone vs Clonmel; Mallow vs Kilkenny; Enniscorthy vs Tipperary; Fermoy vs Wexford; Raphoe vs Mullingar; Renmore vs Limerick; Dungarvan/Monkstown vs Derg Valley/Greenfields; Gorey vs YMCA