Holmes to guide youthful C of I again

Cork Church of Ireland will look to a clutch of youngsters to help in their bid to reclaim the men’s Irish Junior Cup when they welcome Mossley to Garryduff tomorrow (2pm). C of I last claimed the trophy in 2009 when a sensational performance from a side comprised mostly of under-21 players in the final saw them stun Pembroke Wanderers 5-1. Most of that day’s protagonists have moved on, although then-skipper Mark Holmes will provide the backbone and experience, with the likes of Ireland U18 triallists Gary Wilkinson and Richard Sweetnam stepping into the breach.

Elsewhere, the first round draw has thrown up a derby, with Cork Harlequins slight favourites to overcome Bandon in west Cork. That’s by virtue of their top-tier status and a fine pedigree in this competition, though there might be something to be said for Bandon’s better form at the business end of Division Two. UCC must hit the long road north to play Ulster outfit Kilkeel and will be without influential midfielders Stuart O’Grady and Phil Brennan, though paceman Andrew Power is expected to shake off a minor knock. Further afield, champions Lisnagarvey have home advantage against Belfast Harlequins, while Annadale — four-time winners during the Naughties — host 2010 victors Monkstown. The pick of the women’s ties in Munster is likely to be Ashton’s hosting of a lively Trinity side, with Cork C of I, pace-setters in Munster’s Division Two, hoping to make up for their first team’s Irish Trophy exit at the hands of Bandon last weekend when they host Lurgan. Catholic Institute are another side riding high and can call on the Munster U16 brains trust of Clodagh Moloney and Eimear Ryan in their tough mission away to Old Alex. Cork Harlequins, for whom former Irish international superstar Karen Bateman could be in line for an appearance, will hope to put a mixed league campaign behind them by successfully raiding Tallaght as they visit Glenanne. UCC’s seconds, IJC quarter-finalists in 2010, have been rebuilding their confidence since relegation to Munster’s third tier. Led by Ciara O’Connell and Jen O’Flynn’s co-captaincy, they have claimed five wins from seven in league action but their mettle will be severely tested in Dublin as they visit Corinthian. College’s firsts will also be in action in one of two league games back in Munster, as they visit Church of Ireland hoping to arrest a slide that saw them go without a victory throughout November. Having lost at home to Ashton and drawn at Quins, UCC were humbled by a nine-goal defeat at Railway Union last weekend, but will eye Garryduff as the place to put things right, with the influential Amy Kate Trevor and the Coyne twins sure to be gunning for a win over former team-mates.

C of I were a bogey side for College when both teams had stronger panels in recent years, though, and they have Amy Roberts in prime goalscoring form. Having been so defensively mean this term, they’ll have been disappointed with the concession of three goals in Bandon last weekend and will want three points to zip them off the foot of the table. Elsewhere, Catholic Institute go to UL in seemingly ruthless form, having emerged from some teak-tough IHL battles with their semi-final ambitions intact before going goal crazy against Ashton last time out. UL’s momentum from an explosive start to the campaign has stuttered thanks to the frixture gods leaving them without a league encounter throughout November, and they have a heartbreaking penalty strokes loss to YMCA in the IHT to get out of their systems. As Munster’s dominant force, Insta can have some teams beaten mentally before they even take the field but UL will know from their Quins win back on day one that keeping their goal-line intact and frustrating their fellow Limerick opposition will be crucial to any hopes of a shock. Men Irish Junior Cup, Rd 1 (Munster sides only): Cork C of I v Mossley, 2pm, Garryduff; Kilkeel v UCC, 2.30pm, McCauley Park; Bandon v Cork Harlequins, 2pm, Bandon GS. Women ESB Electric Ireland Irish Junior Cup, Rd 1 (Munster sides only): Old Alex v Catholic Institute, 1.30pm, Milltown; Ashton v Dublin University, 2.30pm, Ashton School; Corinthian v UCC, 2.45pm, Whitechurch; Bandon v Belfast Harlequins, 12pm, Bandon Grammar; Cork C of I v Lurgan, 12pm, Garryduff; Glennane v Cork Harlequins, 2pm, Glennane Par. Munster Div 1: Cork C of I v UCC, 4pm, Garryduff; UL v Catholic Institute, 1pm, UL. **** UCC’s men jumped into second place in the Munster league last Monday night, by virtue of a 4-2 win over Cork Harlequins B. Andrew Gray had a profitable night from short corners, his hat-trick of drag-flicks proving the the difference at a wind-beaten Farmer’s Cross. His first effort was cancelled out by Shane Ross, who neatly deflected home Stephen Wolfe’s crash ball, but another Gray strike and David Doherty’s first for the club – converting Fionn O’Leary’s whipped cross at the back post -put College in control. David Egner tucked home a penalty stroke to bring it back to 3-2 after a short corner hit Gray’s foot on the line, but the College skipper had the final say by completing his treble, his drag finding the top left corner.