Home advantage may favour Cork Harlequins

Cork Harlequins are sniffing a return to the glory days as they welcome Hermes to Harlequin Park for tomorrow’s Irish Senior Cup semi-final showdown.

Stephen Dale’s charges last won this competition in 2001, and the only time in more recent years they have threatened to capture a national title was in 2010 in the Irish Hockey League final when they were blown away by Railway Union.

For Quins’ Irish internationals Cliodhna Sargent and Yvonne O’Byrne, it is likely to be one of their last contributions to the club before they switch their focus to Ireland’s Olympic qualification campaign, and they’ll want to return with a final appearance to look forward to.

Those two plus the evergreen Karen Bateman and Rachael Kohler will be vital to Quins’ hopes of derailing Leinster league leaders Hermes, who are still hunting silverware on four fronts this season. Like Ireland, they have lost Audrey O’Flynn and Lisa Jacob to rugby but have Sinead Loughran among those in scintillating form since her return from four years in the USA.

Home advantage could yet be decisive for Quins, however; many visiting teams find it difficult to get to grips with their sand-based pitch and the cold weather at Farmers Cross, although Hermes might ask their Leinster neighbours Loreto for tips after their 3-2 success there in the IHL a fortnight ago.

Ulster Elks meet Railway Union in the other semi-final; Railway this week pulled out of May’s EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Minsk, citing difficulties with player availability due to exams and international commitments. Last year’s beaten Irish Senior Cup finalists Pembroke Wanderers take their place.

Elsewhere, Bandon will look to continue their club’s fine showing in national competitions when they host Armagh in round three of the Irish Hockey Trophy, while Clonmel contest the semi-final of the Irish Hockey Challenge with a home tie against Wexford.

Domestically, UCC’s women are seeking a vital three points against Ashton in the Munster Division1 title race, as they look to take full advantage of Catholic Institute’s slip-up at Cork C of I last week.

On the men’s side of things, Bandon and UCC meet for the third time in four weeks; College won the last league game 3-2 at the Mardyke but fell to an extra-time Munster Senior Cup defeat in West Cork last weekend. Whether drag-flicker Wesley Brownlow, who missed the latter clash with a foot injury having hit a hat-trick in the previous encounter — is available could have a big bearing on UCC’s chances.