Cork Harlequins and UCC battle it out in ‘friendly’ hockey derby

The first Munster derby of the EY Hockey League between Cork Harlequins and UCC pits many friends and former team-mates against each other at Harlequin Park tomorrow (2.30pm).

Cork Harlequins’ Olivia Roycroft and Miriam Crowley both shone in the skull and crossbones of UCC in the past, while the current College crop counts former Quins members Antonia McGrath, Alex O’Gray, Niamh O’Leary and Claire O’Sullivan among their number.

These clubs have scored numerous memorable wins over each other in Munster competition down the years but this is their first meeting in the new national league and plenty is at stake.

Quins are gunning for a third win in a row having seen off Pembroke and Pegasus to lift themselves into the top half of the table after a ropey start; College have gone the other way, losing three on the trot after a promising win over Greenfields in round one.

Elsewhere, the meeting of two of the current top three, Railway Union and Hermes, is the tie of the round.

Physical tests lie ahead for everyone in the men’s EYHL on the competition’s first double weekend. Things tightened up at the top last week with previous pace-setters Monkstown and Cork C of I dropping points while Banbridge and Lisnagarvey gained ground.

David Hobbs’ C of I side arguably face the toughest weekend as they play much-vaunted Monkstown away tomorrow before going to Banbridge less than 24 hours later.

They’ll need to avoid the early lapses that gave Lisnagarvey a three-goal head start in last weekend’s 4-2 defeat, but having run Bann close in last year’s Irish Senior Cup final, C of I won’t travel in fear.

The Irish Junior Cup gets underway tomorrow with almost every Munster side on the road. Bandon are the exception with home ties against NICS (men) and Randalstown (women) but elsewhere on the men’s side C of I travel to Belfast Harlequins, Cork Harlequins go to Trinity and UCC are at Pembroke. Ashton’s women are away to Pembroke.

Domestically, Catholic Institute and Bandon can put more daylight between themselves and the chasing pack at the head of Munster’s Division 1 with home wins over C of I and Waterford.

In Division 1B, the season’s narrative has been who can stop Blackrock; they’ve three wins from three. Cork Wanderers are next up to the plate. Fermoy’s visit to Belvedere will tell a lot about which side is better placed to keep pace.