Quins can’t afford to slip up

CORK HARLEQUINS and UCC face season-defining clashes tomorrow as they bid to progress to the last four of the Irish Hockey League.

In Pool A, third-placed Quins know a win on the road at Ballymoney will put them right back in the mix for the second qualification spot.

Ballymoney have been something of a bogey team for Quins in recent seasons, particularly on home turf at the Joey Dunlop Centre, but Quins come into this clash with their tails up after wins over both UCC and Catholic Institute last weekend.

Railway Union have extracted a maximum 12 points from their three games in this pool, and can confirm their place in the last eight with a win at basement side Cork C of I tomorrow.

The hosts’ Cathy Kenefick will be keen to put one over on the side she used to captain however, but Railway’s Cork camogie star Emer Dillon misses out on a chance to impress on home turf due to work commitments.

Pembroke Wanderers’ league form has been miserable this term – they are second from bottom in Leinster. But they are riding high in second place in this pool, and buoyed by a shock Jacqui Potter Cup semi-final win over Hermes last weekend, will look to reaffirm their position with a home win over Ards.

In the more tightly-fought Pool B, fourth-placed UCC welcome champions Loreto to Garryduff knowing they are in the last chance saloon after narrow defeats to Hermes and Pegasus.

Hermes travel outside Dublin for the first time in this year’s competition, hoping their attacking trio of Anna O’Flanagan, Deirdre Duke and Aine Connery can continue their fine recent form against bottom-of-the-table Randalstown.

Pacesetters Pegasus will host Old Alex at Queens in the only Sunday game, knowing victory will put them in pole position to top the pool and all but end the Dubliners’ faint qualification hopes.

The men’s Irish Senior Cup is proving as open as ever as it reaches the quarter-final stage.

Glenanne’s vanquishing of holders Pembroke Wanderers has stoked the fires of all the remaining teams, and the former’s clash with Corinthian could be the tie of the round.

That is unless Three Rock Rovers and Lisnagarvey repeat the fireworks of their famous Club Championships clash two seasons ago, when the Dubliners edged a thriller 6-5 thanks to five-goal Mitch Darling.

But the Irish international hotshot has now departed for Belgium, and it is Garvey who boast the sharper scoring credentials this time round, thanks to the red-hot form of Timmy Cockram and Greg Anderson.

2008 finalists Monkstown will be favourites to oust Kilkeel at home, but the Ulster showdown between Banbridge and Annadale is tough to call.

Domestically, Catholic Institute have a chance to leapfrog UCC at the top of the women’s league but must overcome a tough challenge at Bandon, while Waterford host struggling UL.

The men’s league sees the second strings of C of I and Quins do battle, while Quins A host Institute and C of I and UCC meet under lights at Garryduff tonight.