Derby battles take on added significance

Clashes between Cork C of I and Cork Harlequins never fail to stir up a bit of passion, but things will be all the more tense as Quins effectively put their women’s title on the line at Garryduff tomorrow (2.30pm). A mind-boggling series of permutations still exist with both sides – plus in-form UCC – still in with a shout of taking the honours as the season reaches the business end. Four games remain to see whether Quins’ 13-year winning streak will finally be broken, but a win will put their fate firmly in their own hands ahead of their April 7 date with College, while simultaneously putting C of I out of the title reckoning. But anything less than that would make things unbearably close, with C of I still needing to travel to Catholic Institute and host Bandon. Goal difference won’t come into the equation – should there be a tie at the top once all is said and done, a playoff would be required to determine a winner. For their part, College host basement side Belvedere on Tuesday night, knowing that they realistically need to take maximum points there then beat Quins in their own backyard to stay in the hunt.

That visit to the Mardyke will be the second of three games the Ballincollig girls have to save their season; the first comes tomorrow at UL. Belvedere are three points behind Ashton, who have completed their league campaign – one of the two is likely to face the drop, with Waterford cutting a swathe in Division Two this term. The Limerick students had looked set to be sucked into the relegation battle too, but a success in their appeal against the point they had deducted for failing to complete an away fixture at C of I earlier this month has had a significant impact. While C of I have still been awarded the walkover, the branch has chosen not to dock UL a point. That leaves them one ahead of Ashton, meaning they cannot finish below them no matter what the result in their final game tomorrow. Meanwhile, C of I and Quins also lock horns at Garryduff on Sunday in the men’s league, but things are more straightforward here, assuming the dominant top two don’t slip up anywhere else. Having won 2-0 at Harlequin Park, C of I only need to avoid defeat to put one hand on the title. But since then, Quins have come out on top in both the Peard Cup and Munster Senior Cup meetings of the sides, and three points for them would be likely to force a playoff. Quins once again have a couple of injury worries; John Hobbs is definitely out, and Sean Nicholson and Philip McLaughlin are both rated as doubtful. Elsewhere, Bandon will be slight favourites when they host UCC, though the students arguably have more to play for. They are looking to stave off relegation fears, and leaving west Cork with something would do wonders for their confidence ahead of their showdown with Catholic Institute next week.

Bandon’s primary concern is overhauling C of I B for third place – they are three points behind with two games in hand – but they will be looking down the line to the IHL wildcard playoffs. C of I’s seconds will look to add Cookstown to a list of scalps that includes Annadale, Quins and Glenanne when they make the trek to Tyrone for their Irish Junior Cup semi-final at Coolnafranky. Also on the national stage, Pembroke Wanderers will find out the identity of their Irish Senior Cup final opposition as quadruple-chasing Cookstown meet Annadale. The women’s ISC is also at the semi-final stage, with the odds suggesting the title may once again reside in Ulster this season. Pegasus, in search of a three-in-a-row, host Ballymoney, who are leaving their Joey Dunlop Centre fortress for the first time in the competition. The other semi-final is an all-student affair; Ulster Elks and UCD didn’t meet at last October’s intervarsities, won by the Dubliners, but UCD coach Mary Logue insists she saw enough back then to be well-versed on the star-studded Jordanstown outfit. It’s also a big weekend for the women of Catholic Institute and Fermoy, who go into battle in the finals of two national competitions. Institute meet the Elks in the Irish Hockey Trophy final on Sunday, while Fermoy’s big day out comes tomorrow against YMCA in the Irish Hockey Challenge decider. The Elks’ stunning rise from Division Two obscurity in Ulster will make them favourites on paper against Institute. They won promotion to the top tier at a canter and reached the final of the Winemark Shield, while their ISC exploits have already been detailed above. However, Ger O’Carroll’s Institute have shown some exemplary displays of fortitude to get this far – notably their penalty strokes defeat of a strong Galway side, a stunning away win at Three Rock Ladies and the dismantling of Genesis in the last four. In addition, they would love nothing more than to claim an Irish cup after what has been a fruitless season so far on the national stage for rivals Quins, C of I and UCC. As usual, Ireland A international Kym Daly, Ireland U18 hotshot Naomi Carroll and the prolific Rosie Pratt will be key figures for the Rosbrien ladies. In the Irish Challenge final, Fermoy face a daunting task in trying to rein in free-scoring YMCA, who are looking for a first national crown since starting their ladies section three seasons ago. YM have been fortunate not to have to leave Dublin throughout the tournament, hitting 13 goals with just two in reply in three games, including a 4-1 semi-final win over Fermoy’s Division Three counterparts Clonmel. The north Cork outfit – winners of this competition in 2004 when it was known as the May Costley Cup – came through a much tougher semi-final test, requiring extra-time to see off Naas 4-3. But showed they are no slouches in front of goal either with a 5-1 rout of Tipperary in the earlier rounds, and skipper Ann Galvin is in a positive frame of mind prior to their big day. “We’re really looking forward to the final, but we know it’s going to be difficult to win this competition for a second time,” she told the Evening Echo. “We have trained hard and our coach, John Moloney, has put in a lot of work with us over the last two seasons to get us to this point. “There has been a great buzz around the town over the last few weeks in the build-up to the game and hopefully we can bring home the cup tomorrow.” Mona Sexton, Liz Sweetnam and Cork senior camogie panellist Orla Cotter are the big players for Fermoy, whose coach Moloney must depart soon after the game for an exam in Portlaoise at 2.30pm – but he will be hoping to join them in north Cork for some celebrations later on.