Old foes Ashton and Catholic Institute battle again
The sides have met three times this season already — twice in Munster league action before also being drawn together in the Irish Hockey Trophy — and also have another league encounter to come in March.
Having lost 5-1 before Christmas and 2-0 in the IHT, Ashton will feel they are getting closer to the Limerick side, for whom 15-year-old Lauren Ryan has been a revelation. The Cork side have their own emerging teenage star in Lorna McCutcheon, who has scored in her last four games. Cork Harlequins await the winner in the decider.
In the men’s EY Hockey League, Cork Church of Ireland’s clash with Railway Union at Garryduff has the look of a six-pointer about it. Both sides are without a win in 2016 and with basement sides Annadale and Cookstown showing signs up life, neither C of I nor Railway will wish to get dragged into a relegation dogfight.
On the women’s side, Cork Harlequins must go to the league’s most in-form outfit, Pegasus, looking for a repeat of their victory on Leeside earlier in the year. The defending champions became the first team to take points off runaway leaders Hermes last weekend though, illustrating the transformation they have undergone after a ropey start.
Relegation-threatened UCC felt they left a result behind against Pembroke earlier in the campaign and with both teams shipping heavy defeats last weekend, their meeting at Serpentine Avenue is a chance to get back on the horse.
Banbridge v Monkstown, Havelock Park, 5pm; Cookstown v Annadale, Steelweld Park, 2.30pm; Cork C of I v Railway Union, Garryduff, 2.30pm; Glenanne v Pembroke Wanderers, Glenanne Park, 2pm; Three Rock Rovers v Lisnagarvey, Grange Road, 3pm. Munster Senior Cup semi-final: Cork C of I B v Bandon, Garryduff, 4.30pm; Charity Cup semi-final Limerick v Galway, Villiers, 1.15pm.
Greenfields v Hermes, Dangan, 2.20pm; Pegasus v Cork Harlequins, Malone Playing Fields, 1pm; Pembroke Wanderers v UCC, Serpentine Avenue, 2.30pm; Ulster Elks v UCD, UUJ, 2.30pm.
Catholic Institute v Ashton, Rosbrien, 1pm; Munster Senior Plate semi-finals: Bandon v Cork C of I, Bandon GS, 2.30pm; Clonakilty v Waterford, Bandon GS, 12.30pm. Div 1B Cup semi-finals: Belvedere v Fermoy, Ballincollig CS, 12.45pm; Blackrock v Tipperary, Ursulines Blackrock, 12.30pm.
Cork Harlequins B v Midleton, Farmers Cross, 12pm; UCC B v Bandon B, Mardyke, 1pm.
Cashel/New Inn v Limerick, Rockwell College, 3pm. Div 1B Plate semi-final: Clonmel v Cork Wanderers, Canon Hayes Sports Centre, 12.30pm.
