UCC and Institute reprise rivalry

Catholic Institute will reprise their recent rivalry with UCC on a novel stage at the Mardyke tomorrow (3pm), as the sides lock horns in the first round of the Irish Hockey Trophy. Clashes between these sides have had a needle in recent years, and both have good reason to want to prevail this time around, as they look to make amends for defeats to Belfast Harlequins in last year’s competition. College squandered a two-goal half-time lead in Belfast before eventually losing 4-3, while Institute went down 3-2 to the same side on home turf in the quarter-finals.

Form guides are hard to come by after a recent period of inactivity for both clubs, but College will be confident of having the superior firepower to progress to an away tie with either Donegal outfit Raphoe or Bray. Elsewhere, a number of women’s sides get their Irish trophy campaign underway. Waterford host NUIG, who have a number of Munster exiles – including former UCC girls Rosie Shanahan and Louise Riordan, as well as Bandon starlet Síle Johnson – in their ranks, while Fermoy and Bandon must undertake travel to the other end of the country to face Cookstown and Ballymena respectively. Ashton will be hopeful of seeing off Wexford on home turf despite the presence of some South East underage interprovincials in the visitors’ armoury, while Belvedere arguably have the toughest opposition to face as they welcome Leinster Division 2 pace-setters Three Rock Ladies to Ballincollig. Cork Harlequins’ visit to perennial bogey side Bandon is the sole highlight of the Munster women’s action. The west Cork girls eked out a scoreless draw in the reverse fixture at Farmer’s Cross, but have found wins hard to come by this season, with just one victory over UL to their name. They will nonetheless relish the opportunity to down John Moloney’s side, who will be hoping the return of Cliodhna Sargent after the CPP-enforced break will help yield an early strike to settle the nerves. In the only men’s league tie, Cork Harlequins B’s visit to Bandon is not as straightforward as it might be for the hosts; with the Quins first team having the weekend off, their seconds may be bolstered by the inclusion of a number of first-string players. Nonetheless, Bandon have already seen off this opposition 3-0 in cup competition this term, and will be determined not to undo the good work of the 3-2 win over UCC a fortnight ago by dropping points here. Meanwhile, the triallists for the Irish U16 boys side were announced yesterday, with seven Munster players included. They are C of I quintet Richard Sweetnam, Alex Burns, Owen Chambers, Gary Wilkinson and Simon Wolfe, as well as Bandon’s Colin Kingston and Daniel Moore of Midleton. Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 1: UCC vs Catholic Institute (Mardyke, 2pm) Mem’s Div 1: Bandon vs Cork Harlequins B (Bandon GS, 12pm); Women’s ESB Irish Hockey Trophy Rd 1 (Munster ties only): Waterford vs NUIG (Newtown School, 3pm); Belvedere vs Three Rock Ladies (Ballincollig CS, 12.30pm); Victorians vs Naas (Queens University, 4pm); Cookstown vs Fermoy (Coolnafranky, 12.30pm); Ashton vs Wexford (Ashton School, 1.30pm); Ballymena vs Bandon (Ballymena Showgrounds, 2.30pm). Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Bandon (Harlequin Park, TBC).