Lynch’s hopes of C of I return dashed

Jason Lynch’s hopes of making an unlikely return to Cork Church of Ireland colours for tomorrow’s crucial Munster league showdown with Cork Harlequins have been dashed. Having recently departed from Belgian outfit Racing Brussells, Irish international midfielder Lynch had hoped to link up with his childhood club for the remainder of the domestic campaign. But with transfers after January 1 prohibited without special exemption, Lynch will be a spectator as the blues go to Harlequin Park (3pm) knowing anything less than a draw will see Quins retain their Munster crown.

Quins won the return fixture 2-0 in Garryduff just before Christmas but C of I overturned that in grand fashion nine days later with a thumping Peard Cup final win at the same venue. Form guides are impossible to locate given both sides have been inactive for a couple of weeks due to Ireland’s Olympic qualification campaign. With the Irish cups and IHL on hiatus since midway through the season, the only reasonable test either side has had in the past month is a 2-1 cup win for Quins over Bandon and C of I’s 3-1 defeat of UCC. That means personnel will be a key factor. Even in Lynch’s absence, C of I now have Andy Herbert properly re-integrated into the side and short corner hitman John Jermyn could be available as his Irish commitments ease off. For Quins, they’ll miss fast-improving teenager John Sweetnam, a long-term injury absentee, but Mark Black was a huge loss in the Peard defeat and will be back to man the midfield. There’s a similarly important showdown in west Cork where Bandon meet UCC (1.15pm), given the winner is very likely to take third place and an Irish Hockey League wildcard playoff spot. The sides drew 1-1 at the Mardyke in the return fixture early in the campaign and Bandon have held a hoodoo over the students in these games in recent years, but College will once again be hopeful that this is their time. The sides have more recent history as Bandon edged Neil Welch’s side 4-3 in a Munster Senior Cup clash, but UCC have the confidence of a national cup run which has led them to the final of the Irish Hockey Trophy to fall back on. College have greater depth than in recent seasons but the Bandon sand doesn’t suit their long game and willingness to dribble off the deck. The hosts, under Stephen Jackson this term, have seen Scott Sullivan grown into a significant attacking role, particularly in the absence of Graham Kingston, while Alastair Smith is again a key dangerman. Elsewhere, it’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final weekend with holders Catholic Institute fancied to advance from an away tie at Ashton while Cork Harlequins will be mindful that Bandon stunned them at this stage in 2009 when they host the west Cork outfit. Institute are chasing a second successive league and cup double and Ger O’Carroll will have ex-Ireland U18 skipper Rebecca Barry back in her ranks.

That’s hardly good news for an Ashton side who shipped nine without reply when these sides last met, but their aim will be to disrupt Insta’s rhythm high up the pitch to prevent Eimear Cregan and Naomi Carroll getting one-on-one with their defenders. Quins, for their part, are entitled to enter their tie with Bandon on a high, having ground out a 1-0 win in west Cork in a low-key midweek game a fortnight ago, which secured second place and automatic IHL qualification for next year. They also have an earlier 5-0 league win to fall back on, though they will of course be minus Cliodhna Sargent. Both sides will have to contend with the extra rotation required for their players who will have endured four games and a return trip to Ulster in little over 48 hours while on All-Ireland duty with Bandon Grammar. John Dennis’ Bandon are by far the worst affected by this with Vicky Burns, Sarah Sullivan, Laura Buttimer, Doris Obialor and Aisling O’Leary among those potentially affected, with Quins only sweating on Acacia Taylor. Quins should therefore have the greater depth and know-how to prevail, especially with the added motivation of being beaten finalists last year. Limerick sees another intervarsity battle between UL and UCC in the plate competition. The Cork side are likely to be seeking reparations for a controversial goal that played a part in a 2-2 draw at The Mardyke a few weeks back, a point dropped for College in their chase for an IHL wildcard spot. UL, boosted by the recent call-up of Steph Peters to the Irish Universities side, where she joins sister Laura, will see this as a shot to nothing and a chance to show more of the progression they’ve made this season. Men Div 1: Cork Harlequins v Cork Church of Ireland, Harlequin Park, 3pm; Bandon v UCC, Bandon Grammar, 1.15pm. Women’s Munster Senior Cup semi-finals: Ashton v Catholic Institute, Ashton School, 3.30pm; Cork Harlequins v Bandon, Harlequin Park, 1pm. Munster Senior Plate semi-final: UL v UCC, UL, 2pm.