Institute and UCC renew rivalries

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE will reprise their recent rivalry with UCC on a novel stage tomorrow, as the sides lock horns in the first round of the Irish Hockey Trophy at the Mardyke (3pm).

Clashes between these sides — the only two Munster outfits in the competition — have had a needle in recent years, and both have good reason to want to prevail this time around, as they look to make amends for defeats to Belfast Harlequins in last year’s tournament.

College squandered a two-goal half-time lead in Belfast before eventually losing 4-3, while Institute went down 3-2 to the same side on home turf in the quarter-finals.

Form guides are hard to come by after a recent period of inactivity for both clubs, but College will be confident of having the superior firepower to progress to an away tie with either Donegal outfit Raphoe or Bray.

Elsewhere, a number of women’s sides get their Irish trophy campaign underway, with Waterford hosting NUIG, Fermoy visiting Cookstown and Bandon heading to Ballymena. Ashton and Belvedere take on Wexford and Three Rock Ladies respectively on home turf.

Cork Harlequins’ visit to perennial bogey side Bandon is the highlight of the Munster women’s action, given the west Cork ladies eked out a scoreless draw at Farmer’s Cross earlier this season.

In the sole men’s league tie, Cork Harlequins Bs visit to Bandon is not straightforward for the hosts; with the Quins’ first team having the weekend off, their seconds may be bolstered by the inclusion of a number of first-string players.

In Leinster, the meeting of YMCA and Monkstown at Milltown is expected to provide fireworks. Just a point separates table-toppers YM and fourth-placed Monkstown, while there has been little to choose between the sides this season with one win apiece already, with YM taking the spoils in the IHL and ‘Town gaining revenge in the Leinster Senior Cup last Sunday.

Fellow challengers Glenanne travel to Sandymount to face a Railway Union side that are proving tough to break down this term, while Pembroke Wanderers will be confident of claiming three points at home to UCD.

The top women’s sides welcome back their Irish internationals, who were missing as Loreto stole a march in last weekend’s double headers to open up a two-point gap at the summit.

They have a potentially tricky clash with Old Alex to negotiate however, while of the chasing pack, UCD, Railway Union and Hermes will be expected to collect maximum points against lower-ranked opposition.