Jackson wary of Glens’ experience

Glenanne duo Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw may have ended their Ireland careers, but they will still be hopeful of continuing to achieve success in the green of Glenanne, starting with an Irish Hockey League round three trip to Garryduff to take on Cork Church of Ireland tomorrow (2pm). Both sides are looking to make up ground on surprise Pool B leaders Lisnagarvey, with Ireland’s top two goalscorers of all time – Butler and C of I’s John Jermyn – going head to head from the top of the circle in what is set to be a crucial drag-flicking duel. C of I coach Stephen Jackson is wary of the visitors’ greater experience, and will hope his fledgling defence can stand firm against the likes of Gary Shaw, who claimed a last-quarter hat-trick in the ISC win over Corinthian last week. “They are a high-profile team who continue to have major successes in Irish competitions,” he said. “It will be a challenge for this (C of I’s) very young and developing group of players.”

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in the last eight of the Irish Senior Cup at Three Rock Rovers last weekend, ‘Garvey get an instant shot at redemption as the Dubliners visit Hillsborough. The Ulster derby between Annadale and Cookstown is the other clash in this pool. In Pool A, Corinthian play their first IHL game on home turf against Banbridge, having taken five points from trips to Cork Harlequins and Monkstown, who meet at Farmer’s Cross needing a win to keep their interest alive. Monkstown have been the side to watch this term in terms of value for money, with goals raining in at both ends, and Gareth Watkins, Runar O’Moore and drag-flicker Andy Ewington provide their primary threats. Quins are still without fractured cheekbone victim Jason Black, but Mark Black is back in the mix after missing the 5-1 humbling at the hands of C of I a fortnight ago. Colin Ross and keeper Chris Daunt are also continuing their rehabilitation after long-term injuries, and Ross is likely to see gametime here once more. Elsewhere, pool leaders Pembroke Wanderers face something of a potential banana skin as they head to Belfast to attempt to down Instonians, who upset the holders in this fixture last term. It’s a big day on the national stage for Limerick hockey too, with two sides vying for a place in a national final. Catholic Institute’s women have taken well to the Irish Trophy, reaching the decider of the inaugural competition last year before losing out narrowly to Ulster Elks, and they’ll be keen to go one better in their centenary year. They are in the last four this weekend, but must repeat their quarter-final heroics on the road at Knock as they face a long trek to Portadown. Meanwhile, it’s been an excellent season for men’s hockey in Limerick, with the second team reaching two Munster cup finals while the firsts have blazed a trail in the Irish Challenge. They have the advantage of home comforts against Larne in the semi-finals, and will again look to veteran former Irish international Robbie Ryan, Amir Khan, teen sensation Nathan Eacrett and Llewellyn Mooney to provide the goals.

Fermoy are the final Munster side in action in the last four of an Irish competition; the Division Three champs have to endure what must be on of the longest trips in Irish hockey, heading to Co Donegal for a tussle with Raphoe in the last four of the Irish Challenge. Like Institute, Fermoy were beaten in the final last year so harbour a sense of unfinished business – particularly with vanquishers YMCA still in the shake-up on the other side of the draw. Domestically, the visit of Quins to C of I dominates the agenda in the Munster women’s league. The emergence of Institute and UCC as title challengers means this is no longer the blue riband, league-deciding fixture it once was, but a loss for either side could nonetheless prove potentially fatal to their title chances. Quins will be favourites, having humbled the Rochestown outfit 4-1 on home turf earlier this season and are in a winning habit, having seen off  Institute, UCC and Ballymoney. However, they must again do without skipper Cliodhna Sargent, who is on Celtic Cup duty in France. A win for C of I or a draw will send them top, while a Quins victory – plus another three points in their Sunday fixture against Ashton – could see them back at the summit. Elsewhere, Bandon head to Waterford knowing the victor will be all but safe from the threat of relegation. The sole men’s league game sees Bandon host Catholic Institute; the west Cork men will be keen to avenge a Munster Senior Cup semi-final defeat, and keep UCC at arm’s length as the race for an IHL wildcard playoff spot hots up. Men’s Irish Hockey League Rd 3, Pool A: Corinthian vs Banbridge (Whitechurch, 2.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Monkstown (Harlequin Park, 4pm); Instonians vs Pembroke Wanderers (Shaws Bridge, 5.30pm); Pool B: Cork C of I vs Glenanne (Garryduff, 2pm); Cookstown vs Annadale (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Lisnagarvey vs Three Rock Rovers (Hillsborough, 4pm); Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: St Brendan’s vs Campbellians (TBC); Limerick vs Larne (Villiers, 2pm); Men’s Div 1: Bandon vs Catholic Institute (Bandon GS, TBC); Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy semi-finals: Wexford vs Greenfields (Enniscorthy, TBC); Portadown vs Catholic Institute (Edenfield, 2.30pm) Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Monkstown vs YMCA (Rathdown, 1.30pm); Raphoe vs Fermoy (Royal and Prior, 1pm); Women’s Div 1: Cork C of I vs Cork Harlequins (Garryduff, 12pm); Bandon vs Waterford (Bandon GS, 12.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Ashton (Harlequin Park, Sunday, 12pm)