Cork derby on the cards in Irish Junior Cup

Munster rivals Cork Harlequins and Cork Church of Ireland could be meeting in national competition sooner than expected after the draw for the Irish Junior Cup was made yesterday. Quins’ seconds, who last won the trophy in 1999, await the winner of C of I and Annadale, while Bandon and UCC face long trips to Mossley and Weston respectively. In the women’s competition, Quins – who lost 2-0 to Old Alex in the 2007 semi-final – and C of I host Ulster Elks and Lurgan respectively, while UCC must travel to Portadown. Elsewhere, Munster’s chances of gaining an extra Irish Senior Cup representative were handed a boost yesterday when both Catholic Institute and UCC were given byes into the second round of the Irish Trophy. The new competition, which offers a path into the senior cup for each of the semi-finalists, has thrown up a number of Leinster derbies, while Clontarf have been landed the hardest draw on paper with a trip to Kilkeel.

Meanwhile, the new John Waring All-Ireland schoolboy’s cup has been added to the schools calendar for the season, in addition to next week’s regular competition. The tournament will mirror the format of the ESB Kate Russell girls competition, and will take place for the first time this year on the March 19 and 20, 2009 in Grange Road. The cup has been named after the late John Waring for his huge contributions to Ulster and Irish schoolboys hockey throughout his life. Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy Round 1 (November 1): Weston v Navan; Armagh v Dublin University; NICS v Newry; Kilkeel v Clontarf; Belfast HQ v Skerries; Bray v Naas; Avoca v Suttonians Byes to second round: Antrim; Cliftonville; UCC; Galway; South Antrim; North Down; Queens; Portadown, Catholic Institute Men’s Irish Junior Cup Preliminary Round (November 8): Cork C of I  v Annadale;  Round 1 (November 8): Raphoe  v Clontarf; Weston  v UCC; Corinthian  v Newry; Mossley  v Bandon; Fingal  v Railway Union; Cookstown  v Banbridge; Kilkeel  v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne  v North Down; Avoca  v Monkstown; Lisnagarvey  v Antrim; Bangor  v Trinity; Instonians  v Portadown; UCD  v Three Rock Rovers; YMCA  v Belfast Harlequins; South Antrim  v NICS; December 6: Cork C of I/Annadale v Cork Harlequins. ESB Women’s Irish Junior Cup Preliminary Round (November 8): Loreto  v Bandon;  Round 1 (November 8): Cork C of I  v Lurgan; Portadown  v UCC; Pembroke Wanderers  v Galway; Belfast Harlequins  v Randalstown; Cork Harlequins  v Ulster Elks; Corinthian  v Three Rock; Glenanne v Armagh; Ards  v Queens; Ashton  v Clontarf; Hermes  v Coleraine; UL  v Railway; UCD  v Bray; Pegasus v Priorians; Lisnagarvey  v Old Alex; Trinity  v Genesis; November 9: Loreto/Bandon  v Waterford.