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.