Three Rock Rovers will hope Leeside continues to be a happy hunting ground for them as they come calling to Farmer’s Cross for an Irish Junior Cup quarter-final clash with Cork Harlequins tomorrow (2pm).
Rovers skipper Stephen Findlater led his side to one of the scalps of the competition in round one, when they saw off 2009 champions Cork C of I 2-1 at Garryduff.
South African Jody Hosking made the vital interventions that day but has since returned home, leaving the likes of Garry Ringwood and Ross Canning to lead the charge instead.
There’s a Cork connection through ex-UCC man Roly Budd, though Luke McSharry — brother of Quins star Rachel — is missing from the line-up as work has taken him to Korea.
The hosts have notched two fine wins away to Ulster opposition in this competition but their domestic form has faltered in recent weeks. Nonetheless, in Darren Farrell, Luke Daunt and experienced campaigner Eddie Gash they should offer plenty of attacking bite.
In the other ties, Pembroke Wanderers host Lisnagarvey and Glenanne visit Annadale, with Bangor and Banbridge squaring off in an all-Ulster clash.
Elsewhere, Cork Church of Ireland’s league visit to Catholic Institute should yield three points given the Limerick outfit’s struggles of late, in the weekend’s only Munster league clash.
Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals: Annadale v Glenanne (Lough Moss, 4pm); Bangor v Banbridge (Ballykillaire, 3pm); Cork Harlequins v Three Rock Rovers (Harlequin Park, 2pm); Pembroke Wanderers v Lisnagarvey (Serpentine Avenue, 2pm).
Munster Div 1: Catholic Institute v Cork C of I (Rosbrien, 12pm);
