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.

Cork Harlequins’ hopes of retaining their Munster men’s title will likely rest on their crunch clash with Cork Church of Ireland at Farmer’s Cross tomorrow (12.30pm).

Munster swept the boards at the Irish Hockey Awards but it was again Ulster who tasted interpro glory over a breathless weekend in Dublin.

“Insta by the grace of God” is their club slogan, but Catholic Institute certainly haven’t needed any divine inspiration this season.

They say you don’t win titles at Christmas — but if you’re Catholic Institute, you can certainly win them in January.

LIMERICK schoolgirl Eimear Ryan notched her first hat-trick in senior club hockey as her Catholic Institute side stunned Cork Church of Ireland in a 12-0 Munster league rout at Rosbrien on Saturday.

AS Munster’s sole side with a win in this season’s Irish Hockey League, Ger O’Carroll’s Catholic Institute will be looking to progress their play-off claims tomorrow against winless Old Alex.

FAST becoming Munster hockey’s answer to Everton — and not just because they wear blue — Ashton are a fine example of how to make the best of their resources.

A MEMORABLE weekend could be in store for Munster hockey with three sides seeking maiden Irish cup titles, while there are a slew of pivotal ties as the leagues approach their finales.

BANDON’S gut-wrenching loss to Three Rock Ladies was the only bit of bad news on a productive day for Munster women’s hockey in Irish competitions.

PEGASUS’ love affair with the women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup continued as they moved ominously into the quarter-finals after seeing off Loreto 2-0 at Queens University on Saturday.

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE have an instant opportunity to bounce back from their Munster Senior Cup final defeat to Cork Harlequins in midweek, as they lock horns with Greenfields in the Irish Trophy final at Belfield on Sunday (1.30pm).

THERE was no fairytale ending for Catholic Institute’s Eimear Cregan as her former club Cork Harlequins gave a lesson in finishing to reclaim the women’s Munster Senior Cup at Rosbrien yesterday.

EIMEAR CREGAN has revealed that the pressure of combining full-time work and training programmes with a thrice-weekly commute to Cork was behind her decision to sign for Catholic Institute.

ANOTHER chapter in Irish hockey’s most enduring club rivalry will be written this weekend when Dublin powerhouses Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne lock horns in round two of the men’s Irish Senior Cup at Serpentine Avenue (3pm).

FOUR uncapped players have been included in the Ireland women’straining squad as they begin their build-up to next April’s World Cup qualifier in Chile.

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).

KAREN BATEMAN’S inspirational performances in turning back the clock to help Cork Harlequins retain their Munster league title will be among 31 outstanding contributions recognised at the Munster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (MBIHA) Awards 2007-2009, to be held in the Fred South Room at Garryduff this evening (7.30pm).