A potentially memorable weekend lies in store for Munster hockey with three sides seeking maiden Irish cup titles, while there are a slew of pivotal ties as the leagues approach the business end of the season.
UCC’s men will hope fond memories of Belfield for their Gray brothers Andy and Roger will help propel them to an Irish Trophy final win over Ulster’s South Antrim (Sunday, 1.15pm).
The Grays were both involved in Munster’s last success in Irish competition, a stunning 5-1 win for Cork C of I over favourites Pembroke Wanderers in the 2009 Irish Junior Cup final, which featured a hat-trick for current College skipper Andy. And last October, Roger scored twice to guide CIT to their first ever intervarsity victory there.
Roger Gray: UCC man had a quiet semi-final against Clontarf but will hope to return to the imperious form he was in against Clontarf (above). Picture: Adrian Boehm
College will need to bounce back from a sloppy league defeat to Cork Harlequins B last week, but can draw inspiration from overcoming first-half deficits to defeat Rathgar Chiefs and Clontarf in previous rounds.
Christopher McCandless’ South Antrim outfit will be a tough nut to crack, however; they have accounted for fancied sides such as Trinity and Belfast Harlequins en route to the decider, with Ricky O’Neill often scoring vital goals.
Limerick and Dungarvan meet in an all-Munster women’s Irish Challenge final, and the Treaty city girls, having blazed a trail through Division Three this term, will be strong favourites.
Semi-final hat-trick hero and ex-Munster U18 captain Jenni Lyttle will be Limerick’s pivot along with Fenagh Smith, while Aoife McGovern and Maria Conroy have been match-winners for Dungarvan in previous rounds.
Meanwhile, Cork Harlequins host Cork C of I at Farmers Cross (12.30pm) in the first of three men’s derby clashes that will decide the destination of both the league and Peard Cup crowns.
The psychological advantage is C of I’s after their 2-1 extra-time Munster Senior Cup semi-final win here last month, but Quins let that one slip through their fingers and won’t be short of motivation to make amends.
Across town in Ballincollig, Belvedere need a miracle to stop a rampant Catholic Institute from claiming the two points they need to end Cork Harlequins’ 15-year dominance of the women’s Division One.
Ger O’Carroll’s side are on a high after their 5-2 Munster Senior Cup final win over Cork Harlequins, and a score draw against the league’s basement side will be enough to claim the league crown with two games to spare.
Meanwhile, the meeting of UCC and Cork Harlequins at the Mardyke has a lot riding on it in terms of Irish Hockey League qualification.
Both sides are chasing second spot and automatic entry; Quins have two games in hand and a five-point deficit to make up, while College can claim the spoils with a win here and a draw in their final league clash with UL.
A Quins defeat here would draw Bandon back into a dogfight for third place – which carries an IHL wildcard playoff berth – but the west Cork girls must do their bit by defeating C of I away to keep those faint hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Glenanne can wrench the Leinster men’s title from Pembroke tomorrow away to faltering challengers YMCA, who took matters out of their own hands in drawing 1-1 with an under-strength Monkstown in midweek.
MEN: Irish Trophy final: UCC v South Antrim (Belfield, UCD, Sunday, 1.15pm); Irish Challenge final: Kilkenny v Portrane (Belfield, UCD, 1.15pm); Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins v Cork C of I (Farmers Cross, 12.30pm; Bandon v Cork Harlequins B (Bandon Grammar, TBC);
WOMEN: Irish Challenge final: Limerick v Dungarvan (Belfield, UCD, 3.30pm); Irish Trophy final: Portadown v Lisnagarvey (Belfield, UCD, Sunday, 3.30pm); Munster Div 1: UCC v Cork Harlequins (Mardyke, TBC); Belvedere v Catholic Institute (Ballincollig CS, 12pm); Cork C of I v Bandon (Garryduff, 3.30pm);
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One Reply to “Trio hunting national glory”
In the Ladies final, Limerick HC beat Dungarvan by 7 – 0
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In the Ladies final, Limerick HC beat Dungarvan by 7 – 0