I’m an ideas man.

Cork Church of Ireland will be all out to prove to Irish coach Andrew Meredith their players deserve a better crack at international recognition as they take on YMCA in a vital Irish Hockey League clash at Serpentine Avenue tomorrow.

Three Rock Rovers came to Cork with six Irish Hockey League debutants, a clutch of teenagers and little in the way of form — but still left Garryduff with a 2-0 victory that all but ends Church of Ireland’s qualification hopes.

A second half goal from Joe Gormley earned Cliftonville a surprise 1-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park as the Belfast side knocked out the Dubliners in the first round for the second year running.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS are charged with the task of causing one of the biggest upsets in EuroHockey League history when they take on Spain’s Club de Campo at Bloemendaal, near Amsterdam, today (11am Irish time).

UNIVERSITY College Cork will contest their first ever national senior final after coming from behind to see off Clontarf 2-1 in a fraught Irish Hockey Trophy semi-final at the Mardyke on Saturday.

CORK C of I and Cork Harlequins all but kissed goodbye to any lingering hopes they might mount a challenge for a men’s Irish Hockey League semi-final spot, after suffering heavy defeats at home to Dublin opposition on Saturday.

THE semi-final picture should become clearer in the Irish Hockey League as a number of interprovincial rivalries are reprised this weekend.

ANNADALE’S stunning elimination of Glenanne in Tallaght on Saturday has resulted in one of the most open men’s Irish Senior Cups in recent years, as the competition heads for the quarter-final stage.

THE country’s top hockey clubs are fighting battles on dual fronts this weekend, with vital league clashes mixed in with the novelty of the start of their Irish Junior Cup campaign.

A TROUBLESOME hip injury has forced Cork Church of Ireland and Ireland goalkeeper Mark Ruddle to prematurely retire from the game.

FIVE teams are in contention for two semi-final berths as the pool stages of the women’s Irish Hockey League come to an intriguing conclusion on Sunday.

CORK’S big two meet for the second time in a fortnight this weekend, with Cork Harlequins hoping home advantage can help swing things their way in their Peard Cup semi-final clash with Cork C of I at Harlequin Park tomorrow (12pm).

PEMBROKE WANDERERS are free to concentrate on their quest for an Irish Senior and Junior Cup double this weekend after Mossley chose not to take an eligibility query any further.

ALL four men’s semi-final places are still up for grabs as the pool stages of the inaugural Irish Hockey League look set to reach a dramatic conclusion tomorrow.

THE latest chapter in the enduring rivalry between Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers will be written when the Leinster heavyweights clash in the last four of the men’s Irish Senior Cup at Serpentine Avenue tomorrow (2.15pm).

Cork City entertain Glentoran at Turner's Cross tonight in this season's Setanta Sports Cup final, kick-off 7.30pm.

Glentoran 1 St. Patrick's Athletic 0

In picking his team for Sunday's GAA All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Kildare, Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke has given a vote of confidence to the team that lost last weekend's Ulster final replay to Armagh.

Glentoran 1 Derry City 1

East Belfast side Glentoran take on Derry City in tonight's Setanta Sports Cup clash at the Oval (kick-off 7.45pm).

Glentoran take on Carnegie Irish League leaders Linfield in tonight's Setanta Cup clash at the Oval, kick-off 8.05pm.

St. Patrick's Athletic 3 Glentoran 3

Provided he manages to complete his house move in time, Alex Ferguson would have been able to sit back in his favourite armchair and reflect on a satisfactory day as Manchester United sauntered past Glentoran in Belfast.

Glentoran 0 Shelbourne 3

LINFIELD have failed in their bid to have a red card shown to midfielder Paul McAreavey rescinded after the player was given his marching orders by Cork referee Alan Kelly in Monday’s scoreless Setanta Cup Group Two game with Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

Glentoran 1 Derry City 0

Glentoran need to beat Derry City to keep their hopes of reaching the Setanta Sports Cup semi-finals alive.

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon is wary of using negative tactics against Steaua Bucharest – but admits the Dublin clash will be different to his side’s previous qualifier.

Shelbourne 4 Glentoran 1 (Shelbourne win 6-2 on aggregate)

SHELBOURNE may have a healthy 2-1 lead going into the second leg of their Champions League first round qualifier against Glentoran at Tolka Park this evening, but manager Pat Fenlon insists his side must take the game entirely on its own merits.

SHELBOURNE’S David Crawley will be fit to play in the second leg of Shelbourne’s Champions’ League qualifier against Glentoran at Tolka Park tomorrow evening.

Glentoran 1 Shelbourne 2

The champions of Northern Ireland and the Republic meet tonight for the first time since 1984.

Glentoran will tell UEFA they intend to take on Shelbourne in their Champions League qualifying tie at the Oval on Wednesday, July 13 with a 7pm kick-off.

Shelbourne and Linfield will go in looking for victory that will earn their club €150,000, the Setanta Cup and local bragging rights when they contest the Setanta Cup final at Tolka Park tonight.

Glentoran 2 Linfield 4

Glentoran 2 Linfield 4

IT has been the same old story for Antrim hurlers in their annual sojourn to Croker over the past few summers.

Nancy Murray, a former president of the Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael died suddenly on Saturday night.