Tough ISC treks for Quins and UCC

The fight to lay claim to some of the oldest silverware in world hockey begins this weekend, as the men’s and women’s Irish Senior Cup gets underway. Lisnagarvey’s trip to Corinthian looks the most appetising tie on paper, given the sides played out a modern classic in last year’s Irish Hockey League semi-finals, with ‘Garvey eventually prevailing 6-5. Corinthian are well off the pace in Leinster but have saved their best form for the national stage, hammering Annadale away last weekend and frustratingly throwing away a 4-1 lead in an eventual draw at Glenanne.

Pembroke Wanderers head to Cookstown hoping their South African hitmen Brandon Panther and Jethro Eustice continue to fire, while Cork Harlequins make the long journey to Banbridge for the second week in succession, intent on overturning last Saturday’s 1-0 IHL defeat. Cork Church of Ireland will be expected to progress with home advantage against Kilkeel, and they will want to be still in the shake-up when the second round draw is made in their Garryduff clubhouse after the match. In the remaining ties, home advantage should see Annadale, Monkstown, Weston and YMCA progress to round two. There’s little debating the tie of the round in the women’s competition, where Pegasus’ visit to play Railway Union will see one of the pre-tournament favourites eliminated at the first hurdle. Park Avenue will hold no fears for Pegs, who won 3-2 in Dublin against a powerful Loreto side last week, while Railway will need their much-vaunted forward sextet — which contains former Pegs girl Alex Speers and her Irish international colleagues Julia O’Halloran, Jean McDonnell and Emma Smyth — to begin firing after last week’s 1-1 IHL draw with UCD. UCC will be keen to put the skids on a miserable recent ISC record, which has seen them make early exits for four seasons running. A trip to north Antrim to take on Ballymoney in their Joey Dunlop Centre stronghold may not be conducive to that, but last week’s demolition of fellow northerners Belfast Harlequins will give the Cork students confidence. Elsewhere, Loreto, Old Alex and Ards will be expected to have too much for Knock, Randalstown and Bray respectively, while there are two intervarsity clashes, with UCD favourites to overcome Trinity while Ulster Elks are fancied to take the spoils away to Queens University. In the sole ESB Irish Trophy game, David Egner’s Cork C of I charges will face another stern test on the road, as they face NICS at Stormont. Meanwhile, UCC’s men will be determined to get their league campaign back on track after last weeks defeat at Bandon ’when they visit Catholic Institute, a clash which serves as a dress rehearsal for the preliminary round of the Irish Trophy. In the women’s league, Ashton host Cork Harlequins on Saturday before travelling to UL on Sunday, while Bandon host basement side Belvedere. All games Saturday unless stated Men’s Irish Senior Cup Rd 1: YMCA vs North Down (Milltown, 1pm); Corinthian vs Lisnagarvey (Whitechurch, 1.30pm); Monkstown vs Bangor (Rathdown, 1.30pm); Cork C of I vs Kilkeel (Garryduff, 2pm); Annadale vs Railway Union (Lough Moss, 2.30pm); Cookstown vs Pembroke Wanderers (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Banbridge vs Cork Harlequins (Havelock Park, 2.45pm); Weston vs Suttonians (Griffeen Valley Park, 3pm). Men’s Div 1: UCC vs Catholic Institute (Rosbrien, 12pm). Women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup Rd 1: Dublin University vs UCD (Santry, 1pm); Knock vs Loreto (Queens University Sand, 1pm); Queens University vs Ulster Elks (Queens University Water, 1pm); Ballymoney vs UCC (Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30pm); Railway Union vs Pegasus (Park Avenue, 2.45pm); Ards vs Bray (Ards LC, 2.45pm); Old Alex vs Randalstown (Milltown, 3pm). Women’s Div 1: Ashton vs Cork Harlequins (Ashton School, 12.15pm); UL vs Ashton (UL, TBC); Bandon vs Belvedere (Bandon Grammar, 2pm).