Free-scoring Institute aim to extend unbeaten run against UCC
Institute saw off Quins’ on home turf this term, and a similar result here would maintain a 100% record and stretch their lead to eight points.
Although Quins’ and UCC both have a game in hand, neither would be enthralled at needing to maintain perfect records of their own to halt Institute’s march to the title.
That should provide plenty of motivation for College, whose experienced backbone of Ali O’Connor, Miriam Crowley and Ali O’Regan are also desperate to take advantage of the Quins’ demise this season, having been defeated by the latter in title playoffs in 2009 and 2010.
However, Institute’s superior firepower — led by Eimear Cregan and Naomi Carroll, they have outscored the students by 47 to 18 this term — will make them firm favourites.
But with both sides without a game in over a month due to December’s adverse weather — rustiness may also skew the final outcome.
Meanwhile, Cork C of I face a potential banana skin as they visit the Mardyke to take on UCC in the men’s league.
Postponements and a quirk of the fixture list have seen College only play last year’s top three in the league so far, and that trend continues as they face a C of I side with a perfect record.
The students briefly led 3-2 in the return fixture before going down 7-3, highlighting the greater consistency they need to trouble the big guns.
Meanwhile, Cork Harlequins should have the requisite quality to be able to keep up their title challenge by claiming maximum points from their inter-club derby with Quins’ B.
It’s a cup weekend for Bandon and Catholic Institute, who meet in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup in Limerick. Stephen Jackson’s Bandon side should have too much for a struggling Institute, but they will be mindful of the 4-0 hiding they received at Rosbrien last term.
Elsewhere, Pembroke Wanderers’ meeting with Glenanne is the marquee tie of a packed weekend in Leinster, with most sides doubling up league and cup action in a bid to clear the weather-induced fixture backlog.
Both outfits are tied at the summit with YMCA, who travel to basement side Weston, and with Glens the only side to take maximum points off Pembroke thus far, they know a repeat performance will put their title challenge in rude health heading into the second half of the season.
Monkstown are just a point behind the leading trio and face a tricky tie at home to an enigmatic Three Rock Rovers outfit.
Women’s pace-setters Hermes should remain on top with a win over Pembroke, while Loreto and UCD hope to keep pace with away victories over lower-half sides Corinthians and Bray respectively.
Champions Railway Union, stung by a controversial four-point deduction due to a player registration issue, will bid to stay in touch as they host Trinity. Fourth-placed Old Alex — who welcome Glenanne to Milltown and double up on Sunday against Loreto — will be keen to do likewise.
