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.