The big games just keep coming for Quins

Cork Harlequins’ ambitions on the national stage will be severely tested tomorrow when they face Ulster powerhouses Banbridge in a re-fixed Irish Senior Cup second round clash at Harlequin Park (2pm). Already out of contention for an Irish Hockey League semi-final spot, Quins will nonetheless take great inspiration from their keynote results this season – a stunning golden-goal away win over Instonians in round one, and last weekend’s penalty strokes defeat of Cork Church of Ireland in the Munster Senior Cup semi-final. Their options up front have been reduced as Philip McLaughlin is out with a hamstring injury suffered against C of I, while talisman Mark Black is awaiting medical advice to see if he can play on a knee injury that has kept him out for all of February.

Banbridge were hardly impressive in defeating Raphoe 3-2 in round one, but boast a serious arsenal of attacking talent. Eugene Magee, scorer of a brace in that game, is their main man up front, while Ross McCandless is becoming a lethal drag-flicker, as C of I found to their cost earlier this season. While Cookstown await the winners in the last eight, the other three quarter-final ties go ahead tomorrow, with the Leinster derby between Three Rock Rovers and Glenanne the pick of those. The sides drew 2-2 in their league encounter earlier this year, and both are bubbling under in reasonable form, most likely saving their best hockey for the business end of the season. Title-holders Pembroke Wanderers go to surprise package Mossley on the back of a 6-0 rout of Railway Union during the week, while a steadily-improving Corinthian side, who have run into a rich vein of form with South African imports Andrew Cronje and Darren Kimfley impressing, will fancy their chances of upsetting Annadale. The quarter-finals of the women’s Irish Junior Cup also get underway tomorrow, with Leinster duo Loreto and Hermes heading to Leeside to clash with C of I and Quins respectively. Quins have injury worries over Kate Herbert, Kay Gaffney, Eleanor Flood and Clare Bergin, but they won’t fear a Hermes side featuring former first-team skipper Carol Devine given they spectacularly ousted Pegasus in Belfast in round two. Dale Burkley captains the side, who will have to be wary of the threat posed by Hermes’ Ireland U18 forward Deirdre Duke, one of a number of young guns up front in a side marshalled by wiser heads at the rear. The game marks the start of a busy afternoon for coach David Egner, who plays for Quins against Banbridge immediately after the IJC game. He will be hoping for better luck after his Scoil Mhuire side crashed out of the Munster Senior Schoolgirls semi-finals to Coláiste na Toirbhirte during the week. Elsewhere, UCC and Bandon meet in the men’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final at the Mardyke, with Quins awaiting the winners in the decider. Bandon  come into this game on the back of a 6-0 mauling of Quins B last weekend. But the students will have been targeting this one, and will be keen to make it third time lucky after losses by the minimum to the west Cork side in the league (1-0) and Charity Cup (2-1). The finalists of the women’s Munster Senior Cup will also be decided this weekend. Bandon have not brought the best out of Quins this season but Clive Seale’s side will still be hot favourites to advance. UCC – conquerors of C of I in the quarter-finals – will be confident of progressing despite having to travel to Catholic Institute. Ireland A international Audrey O’Flynn is set to play a limited part for the students, having spent eight weeks sidelined with a foot problem. Men’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: Three Rock Rovers vs Glenanne (Grange Road, 3pm); Mossley vs Pembroke Wanderers (The Glade, 2.30pm); Annadale vs Corinthian (UUJ, 2.30pm). Round two: Cork Harlequins vs Banbridge (Harlequin Park, 2pm). Irish Junior Cup: YMCA vs Monkstown (Claremont Road, 1.15pm); Cookstown vs Raphoe (Coolnafranky, TBC). Munster Senior Cup semi-final: UCC vs Bandon (Mardyke, 12pm). Women’s ESB Irish Junior Cup: Cork Harlequins vs Hermes (Harlequin Park, 12pm); Cork C of I vs Loreto (Garryduff, 1pm); Railway Union vs Armagh (Park Avenue, 1pm); Galway vs Old Alex (Dangan, 12pm). Munster Senior Cup semi-finals: Cork Harlequins vs Bandon (Harlequin Park, 4pm); Catholic Institute vs UCC (Rosbrien, 12.30pm). Plate: Ashton vs Cork C of I (Ashton, 3pm). Munster Div 1 (Sunday): Cork C of I vs UL (Garryduff, 12pm).