Catholic Institute fly the flag for Munster

WOMEN’S HOCKEY: A WEEK after their memorable Irish Hockey League win over Pegasus in Belfast, UCD are on their travels again…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:A WEEK after their memorable Irish Hockey League win over Pegasus in Belfast, UCD are on their travels again, this time heading south to take on Munster champions Catholic Institute in the second round of the Irish Senior Cup.

Institute are the only Munster club left in the competition after Cork Harlequins and UCC’s first-round exits, Harlequins losing 4-0 at home to UCD. The Limerick side, though, will have been buoyed by their IHL win over Old Alexandra last weekend, a result that keeps them in contention for a top two finish in their pool. They complete their pool campaign in March against UCD, but for now the focus will be on winning a place in the last eight of the cup.

Like cup holders Pegasus, who they meet tomorrow, Ulster champions Ballymoney need to bounce back from an IHL defeat, 3-2 to Railway Union. Queen’s and Portadown are paired in the round’s other all-Ulster tie, while Belfast Harlequins have home advantage over an in-form Loreto and Armagh host Glenanne.

Lurgan are the only Ulster side that have to travel outside the province, and having lost 3-0 at home to Railway last month in the IHL they’ll hardly relish their trip to Dublin to take on the same opponents.

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There are two all-Leinster affairs, Corinthian meeting Trinity at Whitechurch, while Alexandra will hope for a reversal of fortunes when they take on Hermes, a month after losing 3-0 to them in the IHL.

FIXTURES – Irish Senior Cup – Second round – Tomorrow:Corinthian v Trinity, Whitechurch, 2.15; Belfast Harlequins v Loreto, Deramore, 2.45; Railway Union v Lurgan, Park Avenue, 3pm; Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 3.15; Catholic Institute v UCD, Rosbrien, 1pm; Armagh v Glenanne, Ardmore, 2.45; Queen's v Portadown, Queens, 1pm; Ballymoney v Pegasus, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30. Leinster League – Division One – Tomorrow: Three Rock v Pembroke Wanderers, Grange Road, 2.30.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times