UCC missed out on possible promotion to the women’s EY Hockey League in frustrating fashion at the Mardyke as they ended the round-robin in third place.

While the EY Hockey Leagues could both be decided this weekend, the Munster focus will be on who can potentially join the elite division with UCC’s men and Catholic Institute’s women starting out their play-off journeys.

Bandon’s drive for a treble continues with their men hot favourites to overcome Ashton in a Munster Senior Cup semi-final.

Naomi Carroll’s goal 15 minutes from time saw Cork Harlequins record another marquee win on the road as they beat Ulster’s finest, Pegasus, 2-1 at Queen’s in the women’s EY Hockey League.

Jordan Sloan and Mona McSharry highlighted another spell of fast swimming as the Irish Open Swimming Championships continued at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

The Munster Junior team took another big step towards the Junior Interprovincial Championship title with an 11-10 win over reigning champions Ulster at Clonakilty.

It will be a Young Munster-Cork Constitution Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup final next week after Con earned a 30-24 extra-time victory over Richmond in their semi-final yesterday.

There are big games across the weekend with a number of finals to be decided. Clonmel’s bid for senior status continues on Saturday at home to Bangor while Young Munster await the winner of Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup semi-final between Cork Constitution and Richmond.

Today’s Ulster Bank League Division 1 clash between Clontarf and UCD is expected to be the first of two games between the teams in the next couple of weeks.

Cork Constitution 11 Garryowen 9: Another day of drama between the kings of Munster Cup rugby ended with holders Constitution taking a giant step towards retaining their crown with a two points victory over Garryowen at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Hermes remain in front but it’s the severely-congested mid-table that’s garnering the most interest in the women’s EY Hockey League.

The All-Ireland Junior Cup kicks off this weekend, with three of the four Munster participants in action.

Liz Dunphy looks at addiction and prescription tranquilisers — and talks to the practitioners who are re-humanising the treatment of emotional distress — without pharmaceutical intervention.

Hannah Humphreys enhanced her burgeoning reputation with a vital penalty stroke save to send her Ashton side through to the second round of the Irish Junior Cup on Saturday.

After last weekend’s break, the Munster Leagues return to action with a busy fixture list across all three division.

Ten sailors have been injured after a regatta in the North was hit by a squall.

Hoylake is a course with a fond record for Irish golf but only those who stay out of the deep rough at a lush, green Royal Liverpool will have any chance of winning The Open next week.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL FIVE:

Catholic Institute ensured automatic Irish Hockey League qualification for the 2013/14 season as they resisted a strong UCC challenge to win 3-1 at the Mardyke on Saturday.

Another day, another record-breaking shift in the pool for Sycerika McMahon at the Irish Short Course Championships in Lisburn.

MUSIC NEWS: Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody, below, is one of the busiest men in show business at the moment.

Semi-professional Bangor City striker Les Davies admits his inclusion on the list for a top UEFA honour is “crazy but a great surprise”.

Semi-professional Bangor City striker Les Davies admits his inclusion on the list for a top UEFA honour is “crazy but a great surprise”.

Les Davies, a 27-year-old winger who is a cult hero for his club Bangor City, has made it on to the 32-man list of players nominated for Uefa’s best player in Europe award.

Garth McGimpsey retained his Tourism Malaysia-sponsored Irish senior men’s amateur golf title after a tense final day at Clandeboye.

Rory McIlroy will have Michael Bannon as his full time coach after the Bangor professional announced he would leave his club job to hit the road with the reigning US Open champion.

Former Ulster Coach Mark McCall believes Ulster have a 50/50 chance of overcoming Leinster in the Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham on May 19.

Shane Lowry continued to display his fondness for the Blackstone course on day two of the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul.

John Jermyn handed Irish coach Paul Revington a boost ahead of March’s Olympic qualifiers as he made an emphatic return to action, notching five goals as Cork Church of Ireland scored a 6-1 win away to Bandon.

Snow Patrol are to perform at Belfast City Hall on the night MTV’s Europe Music Awards (EMA) are hosted by the city.

LEONA MAGUIRE moved into contention for the Ladies British Open strokeplay title at Royal Ashdown Forest, East Sussex yesterday with a second successive three over par 75.

WITH the likelihood of another passionate full house at Thomond Park on Saturday night, it promises to be another great Munster-Leinster occasion, even if there is every possibility that the two sides will meet again in the knockout stages of the Magners League.

CORK HARLEQUINS reprised their women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup glory days with a shock 1-0 victory at Ards, which leaves them flying the flag for Munster in the quarter-finals.

Bangor will have to pass a 10am inspection if this afternoon’s meeting is to go ahead.

TONY MCCOY managed a fitting end to his landmark year by taking both Grade One races at Newbury, including one named in his honour aboard the magnificent Big Buck’s.

IRISH captain Ronan Gormley will come face-to-face with his hometown club Pembroke Wanderers in the last 16 of the EuroHockey League, after his side, Club de Campo were drawn against the Dubliners yesterday.