Institute hope for a day to remember

Catholic Institute will be keen to mark their centenary year in style as their men’s and women’s teams both contest the Munster Senior Cup finals on home turf at Rosbrien, Limerick today. Most eyes will be on the women’s decider (1pm), given the number of intriguing sub-plots, notably the prospect of Irish international skipper Eimear Cregan lining out for Institute against the club she left less than two months ago. Cregan gave a sharp remainder of her predatory instincts on her Institute debut a couple of weeks ago, blasting a hat-trick against Ashton despite playing for less than half an hour.

She will be hoping the injury sustained on Ireland duty at the Celtic Cup in France has cleared up sufficiently to allow her to take part in what is a repeat of the 2006 final. Further spice will be added to this battle by the fact that both sides will be looking to lay down a marker as the league campaign – which sees just two points separating the top four – approaches a thrilling denouement. Quins have the psychological advantage, having won 3-2 here in the league recently with a depleted squad, and they’ll be keen for Karen Bateman to bring her fine form from the weekend – when she hit a hat-trick against Ards to secure qualification for the Irish Hockey League semi-finals – to bear once again. Nonetheless, Institute boast what is arguably the most talented young squad in the province, with the experienced Elaine Bromell, Rosie Pratt and Kym Daly providing a strong spine. The men’s final (3pm) is a David vs Goliath affair, as league leaders Cork Church of Ireland face basement side Institute, though the probably unavailability of talismanic C of I midfielder and ankle injury victim David Hobbs helps to level the playing field. C of I are hurting right now, having been humbled by Glenanne in the IHL before relinquishing their grip on the Irish Junior Cup with a penalty strokes loss to Cookstown at the weekend, and Institute could face a backlash here. Nonetheless, they restricted C of I to a scrappy 2-0 win here in the league, and let seven penalty corners go a begging, and will be keen to step up to the plate on such a big occasion. Munster U21 star Simon Brickenden is the side’s lynchpin, while up front, Eric Calendar hit a rich vein of form at the junior interiors last weekend, scoring in every game, and Spanish hitman Albert Valls is capable of the mercurial. History will also provide plenty of motivation for both teams; Institute last won this competition in 1985, beating C of I 1-0 on the grass at Garryduff.

Meanwhile, it’s also cup finals day in Leinster, where Pembroke are seeking a rare men’s and women’s double at Grange Road. Their men are unbackable favorites against a Fingal side that has shown some true grit in recent weeks by overturning Monkstown and Glenanne, while the women meet Old Alex, hoping that Anli Kotze can continue to inspire them. Tomorrow is an important day for the country’s top six girls schools, as the Kate Russell All-Ireland Championships gets underway in Galway, with Limerick’s Crescent College flying the flag for Munster, although Leinster kingpins St Andrew’s will start as favourites. The Irish women’s A team are also in action against the German U21 side, with central panel members Lizzie Colvin, Lauren Barr and Emma Gray providing a backbone of experience. Elsewhere, the Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup will have a new name on it this year, as Ashton ended Bandon Grammar’s reign with an extra-time goal giving them a 2-1 at the west Cork school in Monday’s semi-final, avenging last year’s final defeat on strokes. They will face Midleton College, who are bidding for a first title in 24 years, having comfortably seen off Villiers 6-1 in the other semi. Munster Senior Cup semi-finals, Rosbrien, Limerick Women: Catholic Institute vs Cork Harlequins (1pm) CATHOLIC INSTITUTE: C Ronan (GK); C O’Shea, S Mannion, E Bromell, C Hutchinson, K Cantrell, E Higgins, A Kenny, A English (capt), K Daly, R Pratt, A Kearney, K Campbell, R Upton, E Cregan, N Carroll, R Barry. CORK HARLEQUINS: A O’Neill (GK); C Sargent (capt), Y O’Byrne, H Chapple, K Bateman, R Kohler, R McSharry, J Bourke, A Taylor, E O’Leary, A McGrath, L Mullins, S McCarthy, L-A Daunt, J Chapple, C O’Connor. Men: Catholic Institute vs Cork Church of Ireland (3pm). CATHOLIC INSTITUTE: T Murphy (GK, capt); R Fitzgerald, G Atchinson, I Moore, S Brickenden, E Gleeson, G Creamer, J O’Sullivan, E Calendar, D Ahern, D Crowe, K Fleming, T Pratt, R McCormack, A Swanton, M Ryan, M Carter, B Downes, A Valls. CORK C OF I: B Lynch (GK); K Burns, A Herbert, C Sweetnam, P Smith (capt), D Harvey, S Parker, N Buttimer, J Jermyn, A Moffett, S O’Grady, P Catchpole, A O’Callaghan, D Hobbs, N Burns, K Lynch, B Dobson. Ireland A panel to play Germany U21 tomorrow: L Barr (Ballymoney), A Campion (Loreto), M Crowley (UCC), L Colvin (Loreto), S Quinn (Armagh), N Evans (Railway Union), E Gray (GK, Hermes), K McConnell (Pegasus), O Fox (Pembroke Wanderers), V Green (Bath), H Jenkinson (Railway Union), H Matthews (Loreto), L McInerney (UCD), K McKenna (Railway Union), H McMillan (Queen’s University), K Steenson (Armagh), A O’Flanagan (Hermes). Kate Russell, All-Ireland School’s competition (Galway) Pool A: Colaiste Iognaid, Loreto Kilkenny, Crescent Comprehensive Pool B: Royal School Armagh, St Andrew’s, Salerno