Quins in the mix of IHL melting pot

Five teams are in contention for two semi-final berths as the pool stages of the women’s Irish Hockey League come to an intriguing conclusion on Sunday. Railway Union have already sewn up top spot in Pool A and a last four place is assured; they host Pembroke Wanderers, who are fighting for the second qualification slot with Cork Harlequins. Quins have an easier task on paper at home to Ards, but as they are a point behind, they must better Pembroke’s result. However, Cork C of I’s clash with Ballymoney is a dead rubber; all games hit off simultaneously at 1pm.

In Pool B (all games 3pm), the duel between last year’s finalists, Hermes and Loreto, at Beaufort will likely see one side bow out. A draw is enough for Hermes to progress, and top spot is also up for grabs, though a likely win for leaders Pegasus basement side Randalstown will give the Belfast powerhouses the top billing. Only pride is at stake when UCC visit Old Alex. Back on Munster soil,  Cork Harlequins face UCC on unfamiliar territory at Mount Mercy, hoping their 2-1 Irish Senior Cup loss to Lisnagarvey at the Model Farm Road venue last season isn’t an omen. Quins need a win to maintain their title challenge, knowing that a perfect record from here on in will leave them with a winner-takes-all clash at home to leaders C of I. However, they must do without the services of skipper Paul Lombard and full-back Philip O’Driscoll, who are both unavailable. For UCC, getting something out of this game would keep the heat on Bandon in the race for a wildcard playoff spot. C of I are not in action as their seconds continue their defence of the Irish Junior Cup with a home quarter-final against Cookstown. It’s the last chance saloon in the women’s league for UL, who know that anything less than a win at Ashton will consign them to finishing bottom of the table. They would then face an anxious wait to see if Belvedere — the only side eligible to come up from Division Two — wish to contest a promotion/relegation playoff. At the other end, UCC head to Waterford seeking the three points that would them back on top of the pile in the lead-up to what looks set to be a hectic title run-in. Meanwhile, the men’s and women’s junior interpros are taking place in Cork this weekend, at Garryduff and Harlequin Park respectively. While the Munster women’s squad was finalised a number of weeks ago, the men’s coaching team of John Moloney and Eddie Gash, plus manager John Meyler, only whittled their numbers down last weekend after having a shorter-than-desired run-in. Nonetheless, the squad is stronger on paper than last year’s side, mainly thanks to the influx of Limerick-based players. Catholic Institute netminder Tristan Murphy skippers a side which includes club-mates Albert Valls, Ed Gleeson, Gary Atchison, Eric Calendar and Tommy Pratt. Their Division One experience should be a major boon to the side, which can again call on Railway Union duo Mark Egner and Mervyn McDowell, though Fingal hitman Chris Neville is an absentee this time around. Vice-captain Stuart Greene leads a Limerick HC contingent that also includes keeper William Langford and Llewellyn Mooney, while the Cork-based players in the side include Quins duo Moray Russell and Rob Jenkins, C of I’s Glen Hanna and Gavin Jeffrey and UCC pair Danny Mulligan and Shane Fleming. Munster junior women’s coach David Egner says he is hoping to imporve on a 33% win record in the tournament last season, and reported good news in the form of Quins duo Dale Burkley and Laura McSweeney winning their race for fitness ahead of the tournament. “I’ll be looking to Nikki Sterritt, Kay Gaffney, Kate Herbert, Orla Cotter and Meave Murphy to carry the team in a positive fashion, and drive the girls forward,” he added. MUNSTER squad for men’s Junior Interpros: T Murphy (GK, Catholic Institute, capt); W Langford (GK, Limerick); G Jeffrey (C of I), E Gleeson (Catholic Institute), M McDowell (Railway Union), S Greene (Limerick, vice-capt), D Mulligan (UCC), G Hanna (C of I), M Egner (Railway Union), G Atchison (Catholic Institute), S Fleming (UCC), M Russell (Cork Harlequins), E Calendar (Catholic Institute), R Jenkins (Cork Harlequins), A Valls (Catholic Institute), L Mooney (Limerick), T Pratt (Catholic Institute). Manager: J Meyler; Coach: J Moloney; Assistant Coach: E Gash. MUNSTER squad for women’s Junior Interpros: MC McCarthy (GK, Cork Harlequins); D Burkley, E Breen, K Gaffney (capt), C Bergin, K Herbert, O Cotter, E Flood, L McSweeney (all Cork Harlequins), N Barron, A Fitzgerald, N Sterritt (vice-capt), S Hedigan (all Catholic Institute), L Davis (UL), J O’Sullivan (Ashton), M Murphy (Clonmel), M Twomey (Belvedere), E White (GK, Cork C of I). Coach: D Egner; Assistant Coach: B Hayes Curtin. Men’s Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals: Bangor vs YMCA (Ballykilliare, 1pm); Lisnagarvey vs Railway Union (Hillsborough, 2.30pm); Monkstown vs Fingal (Rathdown, 2.40pm); Cork C of I vs Cookstown (Garryduff, 2pm). Men’s Div 1: UCC vs Cork Harlequins (Mount Mercy, 11.30am). Men’s Irish Junior Interpros, Harlequin Park, Cork: Ulster vs Connacht (9.30am); Munster vs Connacht (12.30pm); Leinster vs Ulster (3pm). Sunday: Leinster vs Connacht (10am); Munster vs Ulster (11.30am); Munster vs Leinster (3pm). Women’s ESB Irish Hockey League Rd 5: Pool A (all Sunday, 1pm): Cork C of I vs Ballymoney (Garryduff); Cork Harlequins vs Ards (Harlequin Park); Railway Union vs Pembroke Wanderers (Park Avenue); Pool B (all Sunday, 3pm): Old Alex vs UCC (Milltown); Loreto vs Hermes (Beaufort); Pegasus vs Randalstown (Queens). Women’s  Div 1: Ashton vs UL (Ashton School, 2.30pm); Waterford vs UCC (Newtown School, 12.30pm). ESB Women’s Irish Junior Interpros, Garryduff, Cork: Munster vs Connacht (9am); Ulster vs Leinster (10.30am); South East vs Connacht (12pm); Munster vs Ulster (3.30pm); Leinster vs South East (5pm). Sunday: Ulster vs Connacht (8.30am); Munster vs South East (10am); Connacht vs Leinster (11.30am); South East vs Ulster (2.45pm); Munster vs Leinster (4.15pm).