WOME'S HOCKEY / Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Home advantage, form and experience, they all point towards a Hermes versus Pegasus Irish Senior Cup final on April 4th, but Corinthian and Cork Harlequins have already shown enough this season to suggest at least one of them might be capable of springing a surprise in tomorrow's semi-finals.
Harlequins, after all, have an impressive cup pedigree in recent years, winning the competition for the first time in 2000, reaching the semi-finals in 2002, before losing last year's final after extra time to Loreto. Their 3-1 win over Old Alexandra in the quarter-finals was proof, despite winning their league with relative ease, they are capable of rising to the challenge in the cup.
"I think it's because we know this is our season, this is what we train for - even as far back as September the Irish Cup was mentioned in training, it's our focus for the season," said Rachael Kohler. "I think that's how we manage to raise our game.
"And having won it once, it was a taster for it, you want to do it again. There is still a core of people who were involved in that win, so it's memories of that - and, of course, the trip to Europe the following year - that inspires everyone again."
The draw away to Pegasus?
"A nice easy one," laughed Kohler, "but I had a feeling that's what we'd get . . . We're clearly the underdogs, but we're playing well and looking forward to it."
Kohler admits that often teams can be "beaten" by Pegasus before they step on to the Belfast pitch, such is their home reputation (and away, for that matter), but, hard as it will be she wants her team to regard it as "just another game".
Pegasus beat Loreto, who were going for a three-in-a-row in the competition, in the quarter-finals but their coach, Erika Henry, still rates the Munster champions more highly.
"They are a quality side through and through and it's going to be extremely tough for us," she said. "I reckon they are a better side than Loreto and their track record confirms that. Last year they lost to Loreto in the final so, compared to us, they have vast experience. We've a lot of young girls in the team and for most of them it will be the first time they will have played in an Irish Cup semi-final."
Of the semi-finalists no team is less experienced than Corinthian at this level, having reached the semi-finals for the first time. Their coach, though, has done it before - Fred McDarby led Loreto to their first triumph in the cup for 42 years, in 2002, and is transforming Corinthian, only promoted to the first division in 2001, into one of Leinster's top teams - they are third in the table.
Hermes, injury hit and in the absence of internationals Jenny Burke, Fiona Connery and Linda Caulfield, have had to blood several young players, including Aine Connery, Lisa Jacob and Elaine O'Neill. After playing Corinthian tomorrow they face Loreto on Sunday in a game they must win if they are to have any hope of retaining their title.
IRISH SENIOR CUP - Semi-finals: Hermes v Corinthian, Booterstown, 1.15; Pegasus v Cork Harlequins, Queens, 1.0.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Semi-final: Pegasus II v Ards II, Queens, 4.0.
MAY COSTLEY CUP - Final: Mallow v Fermoy, Garryduff, 1.0.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Tomorrow: Old Alexandra v Trinity, Milltown, 1.15; UCD v Loreto, Belfield, 1.15. Sunday: Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 3.15; Railway Union v Three Rock, Donnybrook, 4.0. Tomorrow - Division Two: Glenanne v Diocesan, Tallaght, 11.0; Clontarf v Loreto II, Glasnevin, 11.30; Old Alexandra II v Muckross, Milltown, 3.45; Hermes II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Booterstown, 4.30.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Univ of Limerick v Church of Ireland, Crescent, 1.30; Catholic Institute v Waterford, Rosbrien, 2.0.
ULSTER LEAGUE - Senior One: Ards v Coleraine, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.30; Portadown v Ballymoney, Edenvilla, 2.30; Randalstown v Ballymena, Antrim Forum, 2.30.
