College bid to clip Pegasus’s wings in crucial league battle

UCC will bid to put off-field distractions behind them tomorrow when they lock horns with Belfast giants Pegasus in a game that has all the makings of a six-pointer in Pool B of the women’s Irish Hockey League.

College have had to deal with the trauma of seeing their grounds at The Mardyke decimated by flooding in recent weeks.

Garryduff, home of Cork C of I, is therefore the venue for this clash, where pool-toppers Pegs will seek to reassert their dominance on the national stage, which was broken by UCD and Loreto last term.

An away win here could see them take control of the pool, while a College victory would ensure things remain intriguingly tightly-fought.

Such has been the close nature of the battles that holders Loreto are still searching for their first victory – which they will be hopeful of claiming on home turf against Randalstown on Sunday.

Old Alex will be keen to prove they are genuine contenders in their maiden IHL season as they host fourth-placed Hermes, having picked up five points on their travels in the first two rounds.

In Pool A, leaders Railway Union will put one foot in the last four if they can pick up a victory at winless Ballymoney, while Cork C of I face the daunting task of picking up a win at Ards if they are to keep alive any slim hopes of a semi-final berth.

Cork Harlequins will be keen to crank up the pressure on the leaders by securing victory over Pembroke Wanderers, and will be glad to be back on familiar turf at Farmer’s Cross after recent away day defeats to Railway and UCD.

Meanwhile, the men’s IHL gets underway this weekend with some cracking ties in prospect, notably champions Pembroke Wanderers’ visit to Banbridge in Pool A.

Elsewhere, Cork Harlequins begin their campaign on home turf against new boys Corinthian – who have taken advantage of Pembroke and Glenanne’s three-week hiatus from domestic action to fire themselves to the top of the Leinster league.

Quins must do without Chris Daunt, Sean Nicholson, Darren Farrell and Colin Ross due to injury, but will fear no-one after claiming a bullish 3-3 away draw at C of I last weekend. Monkstown are the third Leinster side to hit the road in this pool, as they travel to Instonians.

The marquee tie in Pool B is Cork C of I’s visit to face Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road, where their IHL dreams unravelled spectacularly last term. But they will fancy their chances this time against a much-changed Rovers side who have been inconsistent this season.

Last year’s runners-up Glenanne host Ulster champions Cookstown, who will be keen to avenge three defeats to the Tallaght outfit last term. Annadale host Lisnagarvey in an all-Ulster clash.