Quins have a point to prove

Cork Harlequins will be keen to prove they are not a national force on the wane by making life difficult for holders Pembroke Wanderers as the second round of the men’s Irish Hockey League swings into action tomorrow. Very little went the way of Stephen Dale’s side in last season’s competition, and this term they have already exited the Irish Senior Cup — a title they claimed in 2006 — with a shock defeat to YMCA last weekend, as well as losing their first IHL clash to Corinthian.

Heading to the capital to face the country’s top team is hardly the ideal fixture in which to seek redemption — especially with defensive lynchpin Jason Black ruled out with a fractured collarbone. Nonetheless, Quins can take inspiration from the never-say-die attitude shown by UCD in their last-gasp 4-3 defeat to Pembroke last weekend, plus their own visit to Serpentine Avenue last season, when Pembroke only edged them out by the odd goal in three. Elsewhere in Pool A, Corinthian have a chance to strengthen their credentials when they meet Dublin rivals Monkstown, with Instonians bound for Havelock Park to lock horns with a brooding Banbridge side keen to get off the mark. The marquee tie in Pool B is the visit of Annadale to Cork C of I. The hosts dispatched their second string 7-1 in a midweek league game, but were denied another valuable hit-out when their clash with UCC on Wednesday night was frozen off. Having hit the goal trail spectacularly in recent weeks, C of I will be quietly confident of securing their first win of the competition, but their fledgling defence — missing centre-back Karl Burns and ‘keeper Mark Ruddle — must be wary of the ‘Dale’s Irish international sharpshooter Peter Caruth, and his fellow frontman Fraser Mills, plus the all-round quality of Jonny Quigley behind. Cookstown host Lisnagarvey for the first IHL clash on their new €1m water-based pitch, coming off the back of a stunning away win at Glenanne in round one. The latter face Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road. Domestically, Cork C of I’s women will fancy their chances of causing an upset as they take on UCC at Mount Mercy. The students — coming off the back of a magnificent 2-1 win over pace-setters Catholic Institute — always find Phil Oakley’s side tricky opponents, but they face a further test of character this time around, as they are without skipper Audrey O’Flynn and midfield lynchpin Julia O’Halloran. Both are in Alicante for a week-long training camp with the Irish senior team, and national coach Gene Muller is keen to get some face time with his 24-strong squad as they begin their build-up to April’s World Cup qualifier in Chile.

“This affords us the opportunity to train without distractionand competing demands for a week,” he said. “For these players, the hard work is just beginning. We have a series of short competition events after we return which does not include a large training component, so this makes our time in Spain event more significant.” College are likely to turn to Lisa Treacy to replace O’Flynn – whose absence will affect their corners in both defence and attack – while Olivia Roycroft will have to shoulder more midfield responsibility with O’Halloran missing. C of I have not lost to UCC in normal time for more than three seasons – though they have suffered two penalty strokes defeats – and they have steadily improved this term after initially adapting slowly to a slew of player losses over the summer, with new recruit Suzanne O’Connor particularly impressive. Back home, other Division One ties include Waterford’ visit to UL — who have struggled to field a team in recent weeks — while champions Quins host Bandon, determined to get some points on the board after a disrupted league campaign. Cliodhna Sargent will miss that outing due to Ireland commitments, however. The sole men’s league game sees Bandon travel to Quins B on Sunday; the west Cork side will be obvious favourites, and keen to get last weekend’s Irish Senior Cup mauling at the hands of Three Rock out of their system against Richie O’Dell’s side. Meanwhile, round two of the women’s Irish Hockey Challenge is also on the weekend’s agenda; Fermoy – who are blazing a trail in Division Three – are again likely to be Munster’s best hope. They lost a heartbreaking final to YMCA on strokes last season, and will have no fears of welcoming Wexford to north Cork for the first game on the national stage on their new pitch. Also hoping to be in the mix come round three are Mallow, Tipperary and Limerick, while Clonmel’s  tie with Athlone has been pushed back to February 7. Men Irish Hockey League Rd 2, Pool A: Pembroke Wanderers vs Cork Harlequins (Serpentine Avenue, 3pm); Monkstown vs Corinthian (Rathdown, 4.30pm); Banbridge vs Instonians (Havelock Park, 7pm); Pool B: Cork C of I vs Annadale (Garryduff, 2.30pm); Cookstown vs Lisnagarvey (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Three Rock Rovers vs Glenanne (Grange Road, 4pm). Leinster Div 1: Fingal vs YMCA (ALSAA, 1pm). Munster Div 1 (Sunday): Cork Harlequins B vs Bandon (Farmer’s Cross, 12pm). Women Munster Div 1: UCC vs Cork C of I (Mount Mercy, 1.15pm); UL vs Waterford (UL, 1.30pm); Cork Harlequins vs Bandon (Farmer’s Cross, 3pm). ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge Rd 2: Fermoy vs Wexford (Loreto Fermoy, 12.30pm); Mallow vs Kilkenny (Harlequin Park, 1pm); Enniscorthy vs Tipperary (Enniscorthy, 1pm); Renmore vs Limerick (Mervue, 1.30pm).