MEN'S HOCKEY: It's a little like Perpignan and Toulouse in the European Cup final at Lansdowne Road as three Ulster teams and a Cork side travel to Dublin for the all-Ireland Club Championship play-offs. Cork C of I hope to retain the title and with it earn a place in Europe.
It's a tough task for C of I, as Ulster's three strongest sides line up at Belfield. Instonians, who showed last week against Three Rock Rovers that their spell in Europe two weeks ago did them more good than harm, should again arrive well-armed, while Annadale seek to live up to their new status as the Ulster league champions.
Lisnagarvey, as always, will be playing for what they see as their rightful place at the apex of the game in Ireland, a position they have not been able to occupy for some years.
With former Olympic medallist with Britain, Billy McConnell, behind Instonians, they quite effectively over-ran Rovers last week.
More surgical delivery at short corner time would have given them a lot more breathing space, and although Chris Barnes found his range late in the game, it was a struggle for Instonians to put that match to bed despite their dominance.
That's probably picking at hairs, and if Instonians again win 16 corners against any side, it is likely they will have scored at least one before the 12th attempt.
As striking the ball at the set-pieces appears no longer fashionable, Barnes' excellent flicking will be a pivotal issue in their opening match against Annadale.
While Lisnagarvey advanced to the finals on the slimmest margin of away goals against Glenanne, C of I are coming off strong form with wins against both Corinthians and Harlequins.
Ali Dunne returns to a squad that hopes to prove itself as more capable than the one that returned from Blaris 3-1 down in the Irish Senior Cup.
But C of I may have the advantage of not being familiar to the three other sides, and given their Irish Cup win in 1999, this is a side that knows how to win tournaments.
With the talent they have, their match against Annadale in the final game on Monday could be the decider.
ALL-IRELAND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS
(at Belfield)
Saturday: 10.0 Instonians v Annadale; 4.0 Lisnagarvey v Cork C of I;
Sunday: 12.0, Cork C of I v Instonians; 2.0 Annadale v Lisnagarvey;
Monday: 9.30 Lisnagarvey v Instonians; 1.30 Cork C of I v Annadale.
Today's Diary
RUGBY - Kinsale Sevens, Kinsale
SOCCER - National League Premier Division - Drogheda United v Longford Town, 02 Park, 8.0; Shelbourne v St Patrick's Athletic, Tolka Park, 7.45; Waterford United v Bohemians, RSC, 7.30; First Division - Bray Wanderers v Finn Harps, Carlisle grounds, 7.45.
