C of I aim to put the brakes on Railway

Treble-chasing Railway Union will hope to put one foot in the semi-finals of the Irish Hockey League tomorrow as they take on Cork Church of Ireland at Garryduff (2pm). Mick McKinnon’s side need just eight more points to wrest the Leinster league title from Hermes, who will also provide their opposition in the Jacqui Potter Cup final, while a win in Cork – where they have already conquered UCC in the Irish Senior Cup – will go a long way to giving them a place in the last four. C of I are realistically playing for little but pride having lost two of their three IHL encounters so far, but will have the inside track on their Dublin rivals thanks to Jennifer Kenefick, who returned to the club in mid-season after a couple of years at Railway.

Elsewhere in Pool A, leaders Loreto, who have taken 11 points from a possible 12 thus far, can ensure their progress with a win at basement outfit Randalstown, while Pegasus – snapping at the heels of the top two – travel up the road to Belfast Harlequins. First meets second in Pool B, where Hermes can expect a backlash from Cork Harlequins for a number of reasons. Clive Seale’s side went down to a shock Munster Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Bandon last weekend, while their second were hammered 6-1 by Hermes in the Irish Junior Cup. Of particular interest will be the clashes of four former international team-mates – veterans Jenny Burke and Linda Caulfield line out for Hermes, while Rachael Kohler and Karen Bateman are still going strong for Quins. Armagh, who dispensed with the services of coach Neil Madeley earlier this week, will have a tough job salavaging something from a thus far winless campaign as they host giant-killing UCD. Elsewhere, it’s realistically the last-chance saloon for Ballymoney and Pembroke Wanderers, who meet at the Joey Dunlop Centre. The pick of the men’s ties is the Pool A clash of Leinster giants Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne, a dress rehearsal for the sides’ Irish Senior Cup semi-final later this month. Glens are in control of the pool and have a four-point lead at the summit, and will take heart from the sides’ Valentine’s Day league clash, where they reeled in a three-goal deficit to salvage a draw. Cork Harlequins couldn’t face a tougher prospect as they look to pick up their first win of the campaign, as they must travel to newly-crowned Ulster champions Cookstown. Quins will be severely depleted however, as they are without Mark Black, Dan Hobbs, John Hobbs, Philip McLaughlin, Lee d’Alton and David Mills due to a combination of injury and unavailability. Colin Ross may yet miss out due to work commitments, but is nonetheless named in a squad of just 13, which also includes Darren Farrell and Brian Hayes Curtin, who step up from the seconds. Cookstown’s David Ames looks set to miss another big game for his side – having sat out their Ulster title-clinching win last weekend, Ames suffered a nasty elbow injury in Cookstown High’s 4-3 Ulster Schools Cup win over Banbridge Academy during the week, and will sit out the Quins tie.

Annadale and Instonians square off in the other Pool A clash, with the former knowing a win will end Inst’s hopes of progression, while the Dale still have to play their refixed round two clash against Cookstown at the end of the month. All eyes will turn to Garryduff in Pool B on Sunday as Jason Lynch begins an interesting week. The former Cork C of I man will line out against his old colleagues in the colours of Lisnagarvey, before returning to his former stoming ground next weekend in an Ulster shirt for the senior interprovincials. ‘Garvey, Irish hockey’s quintessential cup side, haven’t fared so well with a league format and are out of contention for a semi-final spot, while C of I will be seeking a win to give them the upper hand ahead of next weekend’s clash with Three Rock Rovers, which will likely rule the loser out of contention for a semi-final spot. Rovers could already have seen their ambitions bite the dust if they lose at home to pool leaders Banbridge in a re-match of the famed 1986 Irish Senior Cup final. The sides had contrasting fortunes in the Irish Senior Cup last weekend – Bann won 2-1 at Quins while Rovers exited the competition to Glens on penalty strokes – but the Dubliners will be glad to have influential midfielder Phelie Maguire back in harness. Monkstown’s clash with Fingal –  part of a double header at UCD with the women’s clash between Quins and Hermes – is ultimately academic, but both sides will be keen to generate momentum for the league run-in as they chase an IHL qualification spot for next season. Meanwhile, Catholic Institute go in search of a double success in the semi-finals of the Irish Hockey Trophy this weekend. Their women’s side host Genesis, while the men must hit the road to play North Down. The Rosbrien outfit’s ladies are also in Examiner Cup action on Sunday against Ashton. Clonmel will be hoping Meave Murphy can continue her hot streak as they travel to YMCA in the semi-finals of the Irish Challenge, while the prospect of an all-Munster final is also a carrot for Fermoy, who contest the other last four tie at home to Naas. Domestically, UCC’s women will hope to complete a profitable week by picking up three points at Belvedere – a side they hit six past in their last encounter – tomorrow morning.

College laid down a marker ahead of their Munster Senior Cup final tie with Bandon last night, handing the west Cork girls a 3-0 Examiner Cup defeat via goals in each half from Julia O’Halloran and one from Ali O’Connor. In addition, their seconds did their hopes of avoiding relegation from Division Two the power of good on Tuesday night, defeating Cork Harlequins 2-0 thanks to strikes from Fiona O’Connell and Eibhlin O’Donoghue. There’s just one men’s Division One match this weekend, with Bandon taking on C of I B. The former’s Ali Smith is still a few weeks away from a return after dislocating his shoulder in the Charity Cup clash with UCC last month, and is rated as doubtful for his club’s MSC final date with Quins on St Patrick’s Day. Further down the leagues, players from most clubs will be on tenterhooks as the divisional cups reach the semi-final stages. Irish Hockey League, Round 4, all ties Saturday unless stated Men’s Pool A: Cookstown vs Cork Harlequins (Coolnafranky, 2.30pm); Sunday: Pembroke Wanderers vs Glenanne (Sepentine Avenue, 3pm); Annadale vs Instonians (UUJ, 2pm). Men’s Pool B: Three Rock Rovers vs Banbridge (Grange Road, 3.30pm); Sunday: Cork C of I vs Lisnagarvey (Garryduff, 1pm); Monkstown vs Fingal (UCD, 3.30pm). Women’s Pool A: Cork C of I vs Railway Union (Garryduff, 2pm); Randalstown vs Loreto (Antrim Forum, 4pm); Sunday: Belfast Harlequins vs Pegasus (Deramore Park, 2.30pm). Women’s Pool B: Ballymoney vs Pembroke Wanderers (Joey Dunlop Centre, 1.30pm); Armagh vs UCD (Ardmore, 2.30pm); Sunday: Hermes vs Cork Harlequins (UCD, 1.30pm). Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final: North Down vs Catholic Institute (Comber, 2.30pm) Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final: Catholic Institute vs Genesis (Rosbrien, 1pm) Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge semi-finals: Fermoy vs Naas (Midleton College, 12pm), YMCA vs Clonmel (Claremont Road, 3pm). Women’s Div 1: Belvedere vs UCC (Ballincollig CS, 11.45am) Men’s Div 1: Bandon vs Cork C of I B (Bandon GS, 12pm).