Quins bid to continue hot streak

Cork Harlequins should get a measure of where their 2012/13 campaign is heading as they face a tricky trip to Ashton tomorrow (12.30pm). Following easy victories over Fermoy (8-0) and Bandon (9-0), Quins coach Stephen Dale will be expecting a less porous rearguard from Ashton, who finally clicked into gear with victory over UL last week.

Kate Harvey, Caroline McCarthy and Emma Harrington are among the primary threats for Alan Dobson’s hosts but Quins will still be expected to do enough to win, especially with Cliodhna Sargent dominating from central defence and captain Yvonne O’Byrne on a  goalscoring hot streak with six in two games. Ireland U18 Abby Oakes will likely miss out for Quins though; she’s nursing a facial injury sustained while on schools duty with Mount Mercy. Cork C of I’s home game against UL represents an early-season six-pointer for both sides, for different reasons. C of I are resurgent since welcoming Sandra Hackett, Ali O’Connor and Ali O’Regan back to the fold and another win here will give them confidence to take on the big guns later in the campaign. For UL, getting something out of their second trip outside Limerick of the campaign – like the 1-1 draw they secured at Garryduff last term – would be most welcome to ensure they aren’t cut adrift too early in the campaign having lose their first two counters. UCC are heading the other direction in every sense; they hit the road to take on Limerick at Villiers with two comprehensive wins under their belt, against Ashton and Fermoy, from their opening encounters. The Cork students are gearing up for a big assault on the intervarsities on their home turf and have improved the depth of their squad significantly, with freshers Sarah Sullivan and Rachel O’Hanlon starting well while Irish u21 pair Aine Curran and Olivia Roycroft lead from the front. This will be an intriguing one as it might provide some guidance as to whereabouts Limerick will be this year; they’ve beaten UL 3-1 away and lost to C of I at home on the same scoreline thus far. Meanwhile, Alastair Smith will bid to show Cork C of I his true worth as they face a tricky home tie against UCC. Clashes between these sides have always produced goal feasts in the last couple of seasons, not least the corresponding fixture in 2010 when C of I needed a second-half rally to come from behind and win 7-3. Smith, the Ireland international signed from Bandon during the summer, will bid to be among the scorers in a tie that always arouses niggle due to the fact that the majority of the College panel grew up playing with C of I. One of the few who didn’t, Midleton man Shrew Power, looks set to sit this one out with hamstring trouble but Wesley Brownlow and Adam Colton will relish lining out against their childhood club for the first time. With Bandon still on a break to facilitate getting their first-team squad together, there’s just one other men’s game, the Quins derby, which should go the way of the firsts without too much difficulty. Women Div 1: Ashton v Cork Harlequins, Ashton School, 12.30pm; Cork C of I v UL, Garryduff, 2pm; Limerick v UCC, Villiers, 2.30pm. Men Div 1: Cork C of I v UCC, Garryduff, 3.45pm; Cork Harlequins v Cork Harlequins B, Farmer’s Cross, 3.30pm.