Quins in search of cup salvation

Cork Harlequins will hope for some distraction from their domestic woes when they travel to UCD in the ESB Irish Senior Cup quarter-final at Belfield on Saturday (1pm). Quins’ 2-0 loss to UCC last weekend has left them 11 points off the pace set by Catholic institute in Munster, and though they have a game in hand, a miracle is required for their 15-year stranglehold to continue. Today they can revel in their underdogs tag, however; it suited them well in shocking Ards 1-0 in the last round. The return of lynchpin Cliodhna Sargent – scorer of the all-important goal that day up north – from Irish international duty should help their cause against a star-studded UCD side who have stumbled recently after a fine start to the season.

Elsewhere in the last eight, Old Alex host Ballymoney while there’s a heavyweight clash in one of two second round back games, with Pegasus and Loreto — who have shared six of the last 10 titles — squaring off at Queens. Ulster Elks meet Armagh in the other. Elsewhere, Ashton are on a two-game winning streak — scoring eight goals in the process — to take plenty of confidence into their visit to Clontarf, where they will duel it out for a place in the last eight of the Irish Trophy. Domestically, Bandon are the latest side to bid to become the first to take points off Catholic Institute, who know that a 10th win from as many games this season could give them the chance to secure the title with a win in make their home clash with UCC on March 5, pending other results. Belvedere’s visit to UL is a vital one, as the former must win to keep their relegation fate in their own hands. UL raided Ballincollig for their sole win of the campaign earlier this term, though that three-pointer has since been downgraded to two as they were docked a point for failing to fulfil a fixture against UCC. That should be all the incentive Bryan O’Donovan’s Belvedere need. Though they have struggled to make their mark in the top tier and have yet to pick up a point, the unlikelihood of a win for either side against other opposition this term heightens the importance of this clash. Having scored just six league goals between them – with half of those coming in their previous meeting – the presence of Peters sisters Laura and Steph could help swing the tie in UL’s favour. However, they will be mindful of the 7-1 stuffing they got from Belvedere at the tail end of last term, and Aly Moore, Jordana Dolan and Ann Marie Dooley will be among their key players once more. Meanwhile, Munster Senior Cup semi-final action dominates the local men’s agenda, with UCC’s meeting with Bandon in west Cork (2pm) having all the hallmarks of a revenge clash. Bandon beat the students 3-2 earlier this term to all but end their Irish Hockey League qualification hopes, and College — fresh from two epic wins on the road in the Irish Trophy — will want to lay down a marker for next term, as well as giving themselves a place in the St Patrick’s Day showpiece. The identity of their opponents is still unknown after Cork C of I’s clash with Cork Harlequins late on Thursday night was postponed due to fog at Farmer’s Cross. The duo’s second string outfits will meet in the league today at Harlequin Park. Men Munster Senior Cup semi-final: Bandon v UCC (Bandon GS, 2pm); Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins B v Cork C of I B (Harlequin Park, 2pm); Women ESB Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: UCD v Cork Harlequins (Belfield, 1pm); Old Alex v Ballymoney (Milltown, 1.30pm); Rd 2: Pegasus v Loreto (Queens, 2.30pm); Ulster Elks v Armagh (UUJ, 1pm); ESB Irish Trophy Rd 2: Clontarf v Ashton (Mount Temple, 2.30pm); Rd 1: Greenisland v Galway (UUJ, 2.30pm). Munster Div 1: Catholic Institute v Bandon (Rosbrien, 12pm); UL v Belvedere (UL, 1.45pm);