Harlequins face Banbridge test

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 inspiration from their stunning golden-goal away win over Instonians in round one and last weekend’s defeat of Cork Church of Ireland.

Philip McLaughlin is out with a hamstring injury while Mark Black is awaiting medical advice to see if he can play.

Banbridge were hardly impressive in defeating Raphoe 3-2 in round one, but boast a serious arsenal in Eugene Magee, scorer of a brace in that game, and Ross McCandless.

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.

Titleholders Pembroke Wanderers go to surprise package Mossley while steadily-improving Corinthians will fancy their chances of upsetting Annadale.

The quarter-finals of the women’s Irish Junior Cup also get underway 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 ousted Pegasus in Belfast in round two.

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.

Quins women take on Bandon in the Munster Senior Cup while Cork C of I host UL as they look to make up ground on leaders Quins.

Fixtures (all games Saturday unless stated): Men 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 Monk-stown (Claremont Road, 1.15pm); Cookstown vs Raphoe (Coolnafranky, TBC); Leinster Div 1: Monkstown vs Kilkenny (Rathdown, 3.30pm); YMCA vs Fingal (Claremont, 3.15pm); Ulster Div 1: Bangor vs Cookstown (Ballykillaire, 2.30pm); Raphoe vs Instonians (Royal and Prior, 2.30pm);

Leinster Mills Cup semi-finals (Sunday): Pembroke Wanderes vs Monkstown (Grange Road, 12pm); Corinthians vs YMCA (Grange Road, 2pm); Munster Senior Cup semi-final: UCC vs Bandon (Mardyke, 12pm); Women 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); Leinster Div 1: Corinthians vs Railway Union (White-church, 2.30pm); Trinity vs Pembroke Wanderers (Santry, TBC); Munster Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Bandon (Harlequin Park, 4pm). Sunday: Cork C of I vs UL (Garryduff, 12pm); Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup semi-finals (Sunday): Railway Union vs UCD (Park Avenue, 4.45pm) Bray vs Hermes (Loreto Bray, 4pm).