Quins facing Alex battle to keep perfect record

CORK HARLEQUINS will seek to keep their 100% start to the season intact when they welcome Old Alex to Harlequin Park in the second round of the women’s ESB Irish Senior Cup tomorrow (1pm).

Quins have yet to drop league points under new coach Eddie Gash, with Karen Bateman in scintillating form, and will be hoping for a repeat of their first-round 4-0 thrashing of Belfast Harlequins. But Alex, who can now call on Irish international Roisín Flinn, will prove a tougher nut to crack, as evidenced by their sterling defensive performance in the 1-1 Irish Hockey League draw with holders Loreto a couple of weeks ago.

Railway Union will hope to bring their scintillating league form, which has seen them score 14 times in three games, to St Andrew’s, where they will meet a Hermes side who have struggled to get going this term.

Of the other ties, Armagh’s visit to Loreto is one to look out for as it pits the Dubliners’ Lizzie Colvin against her childhood club, while UCC will be keen to show they can compete on this stage after false starts in the past two seasons, as they travel to Ards.

Domestically, there is a tasty encounter to look forward to at the Mardyke, where the Munster men’s league’s most improved teams clash. There has been little love lost between UCC and Catholic Institute in recent seasons, and there’s likely to be less so this time round with both keen to put down a statement of intent.

Bandon are the side both are looking to usurp, and things don’t get any easier for the West Cork side, who have struggled to find their best form so far this term, as they travel to champions Cork C of I this evening.

Elsewhere, C of I B’s woes look set to continue at the hands of Quins, as their chances of picking up their first league points look slim.

With many teams involved in national competition, there is just one women’s top-tier fixture, as Bandon head for Limerick in the hope of stopping an Institute juggernaut that has seen them hit 23 goals without reply.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s men yesterday ended their preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifier on a high note, drawing 4-4 with England in the second of two non-cap matches, having lost the first 4-2.