Cork Harlequins will bid to take out some frustration on title rivals UCC when the sides meet in a crucial Munster women’s league clash at the Mardyke tomorrow (12pm).
Stephen Dale’s side endured a disappointing 1-0 Irish Senior Cup second round loss away to Old Alex last weekend, ending Munster’s interest in the competition. They will feel it was an opportunity missed and will look to lift spirits again by maintaining their 100% record in their own province.
UCC are the other side who have eked out three points from all their games, and currently sit ahead of Quins by that margin having played a game more. Something has to give but the psychological advantage lies with the Farmer’s Cross girls, who saw off College 2-1 at the tail end of last season, scoring 45 seconds from time to seal the title.
Paidi Hartnett’s students, though, have been motoring nicely with former underage internationals Aine Curran, Antonia McGrath and Amy-Kate Trevor pulling the strings while Miriam Crowley and Sophie Fischer provide the spectacular finishes.
Elsewhere, struggling Fermoy have a goalkeeping quandary for their tie with Bandon with their only two netminders, in-form Ondine Roche and Munster U16’s Kathryn Buckley both out.
Ashton’s first meeting with Cork Church of Ireland should tell a lot about who is better equipped to compete for the “best of the rest” tag outside the top three, while UL’s clash with Limerick is one both will be targeting for three points to pull away from the wrong end of the table.
It’s Peard Cup semi-final weekend for the men, with a place in the first cup final of the season on St Stephen’s Day at stake. Cork Church of Ireland host Bandon tonight, and for all the improvements made by the west Cork men this term, an 8-0 win for C of I in their recent league meeting suggests they won’t be too troubled here.
UCC’s visit to Cork Harlequins should be a much closer affair; Fionn O’Leary dug the students out of a hole in the final minute to rescue a 2-2 draw in the league last week as Liam Hale made an impressive Division 1 debut between the sticks for Quins.
College potentially have enough in their locker to earn a first victory over Quins in modern times, but their hopes could be dealt a blow if an injury which left former Ireland U18 hitman Gary Wilkinson on crutches after last weekend’s encounter keeps him out of tomorrow’s game.
Paidi Hartnett’s students, though, have been motoring nicely with former underage internationals Aine Curran, Antonia McGrath and Amy-Kate Trevor pulling the strings while Miriam Crowley and Sophie Fischer provide the spectacular finishes.
Elsewhere, struggling Fermoy have a goalkeeping quandary for their tie with Bandon with their only two netminders, in-form Ondine Roche and Munster U16’s Kathryn Buckley both out.
Ashton’s first meeting with Cork Church of Ireland should tell a lot about who is better equipped to compete for the “best of the rest” tag outside the top three, while UL’s clash with Limerick is one both will be targeting for three points to pull away from the wrong end of the table.
It’s Peard Cup semi-final weekend for the men, with a place in the first cup final of the season on St Stephen’s Day at stake. Cork Church of Ireland host Bandon tonight, and for all the improvements made by the west Cork men this term, an 8-0 win for C of I in their recent league meeting suggests they won’t be too troubled here.
UCC’s visit to Cork Harlequins should be a much closer affair; Fionn O’Leary dug the students out of a hole in the final minute to rescue a 2-2 draw in the league last week as Liam Hale made an impressive Division 1 debut between the sticks for Quins.
College potentially have enough in their locker to earn a first victory over Quins in modern times, but their hopes could be dealt a blow if an injury which left former Ireland U18 hitman Gary Wilkinson on crutches after last weekend’s encounter keeps him out of tomorrow’s game.