Kingston hoping Harlequins can make NICS pay penalty

RESPONSIBILITY is a word that has figured prominently in the preparations of Cork Harlequins for their Irish Senior Cup semi-final tie against NICS of Belfast in Stormont today (2.45pm).

There is the collective responsibility borne by the senior players in a team that includes five current Irish internationals and the individual responsibility willingly shouldered by penalty expert David Eakins.

Team manager Donal Kingston expanded: “We’ve lost five players who retired after the European Championship last season. We have good young players like Lee Dalton and Conor Harte coming through and the experienced players have taken on the extra responsibility which is good.”

Both Dalton and Harte are Irish under-age internationals and they are clearly players for the future. Harlequins will not be able to call on Harte for this game, however, because he is involved in a trial for Ireland’s U16s in Dublin.

The role of Eakins might well prove decisive as Harlequins attempt to continue their bid to win the ISC for the first time in the club’s history. The importance of converting penalties was never more critically illustrated than in last season’s final when it cost Harlequins dearly against champions Lisnagarvey.

To their credit, Harlequins looked at their shortcomings in this regard and resolved to address the problem. Their attention to detail has paid dividends to this point.

Said Kingston: “David Eakins has scored on average three penalties in every match this season. He has been taking 100 every week in practice.

“Special coaching means he is 25% quicker than last year. His shots are now averaging 130mph where last season they were between 115 and 120 mph.”

Kingston said that Eakins was now much lower in his crouch when he is striking the ball, giving him the extra power. When you consider the top internationals reach 140-150mph from short corners, the measure of his improvement is obvious.

The meeting of these teams at this stage of the competition is a novelty. The Belfast club, NICS, is 80 years old this year and this represents the most important match the club has ever hosted. Their form in getting this far has been impressive with wins away from home against Dublin YM and Cookstown in the previous rounds.

Harlequins’ form in the Cup has been exhilarating. They scored 25 goals in overpowering Portrane, Trinity and Glenanne with David Egner’s goals from play supplementing Eakins’ supply from penalties.

Neither have NICS been as impressive in their League competition as Harlequins. The Cork side are well on the way to regaining a title they lost last season to C of I while NICS are currently 7th in the Ulster equivalent.

There is a difference, however, as was pointed out by Kingston - “It is always tough for Munster teams when they travel to Ulster. They have a fairly high standard in their league and play tough matches every week.”

Harlequins made an important recruitment this season which they hope will help them finally to achieve the big breakthrough. They added to their complement of international players by signing Mark Black from C of I.

Black was kept out of the game for almost 18 months with a cruciate ligament injury. He decided to team up with his brother, Jason, at Harlequins on his return and is quickly approaching top fitness again.