Women's Hockey Irish Senior CupNot since 1949 has a club completed a three-in-a-row in the Irish Senior Cup - indeed, Pembroke Wanderers went on to make it a four-in-a-row in 1950 - but that's Hermes' target this season after triumphing in the last two finals, beating Ballymoney in 2005 and Old Alexandra last year. Cork Harlequins, who, of course, beat Hermes in the 2000 final, stand between the holders and a place in the semi-finals, the teams meeting at Booterstown tomorrow.
It's hardly the draw the Munster champions would have wished for but they bring to Dublin a squad, coached by Darren Collins, brimming with talent, from the experience of Rachael Kohler, Karen Bateman and Eimear Cregan to the promise of Cliodhna Sargent and Julia O'Halloran, both now members of the Irish senior squad. But with six former and two current internationals in their squad Hermes are hardly short of talent themselves.
Pembroke, the round's only other Leinster representative, host Lurgan, the surprise package of this year's competition, at Serpentine Avenue. "Let's face it - we aren't going to win the Irish Senior Cup," said coach Ivor Lennon, "but we are determined to make life as difficult as possible for Pembroke."
Pegasus and Randalstown will hope to have more success staging their quarter-final at the Antrim Forum than they have in playing their league fixture, which has now been postponed on three occasions due to the weather. Pegasus will be favourites to win through to the semi-finals, but they were even more fancied to progress in the competition last season when they were drawn away to Church of Ireland.
The Munster side, of course, produced the shock of the season when they prevailed, and face yet more Ulster opposition in this year's quarter-finals having been drawn away to Ballymoney.
Ballymoney will expect home advantage to give them the edge but having already beaten Ards away from home this year, and having won their last encounter with Ballymoney (1-0 in last season's Club Championships), C of I should go in to the tie with confidence, with their midfield unit of Deirdre Casey, Sinead Connery and Holly Moffett in particularly good form.
Meanwhile, England had the upper hand over Ireland at Belfield yesterday, winning both the under-16 and under-18 internationals between the teams. The Irish under-18s, who beat England on Wednesday, had the perfect start yesterday through Zara Delany's third minute goal, but by the time Caoimhe Bourke scored Ireland's second a minute from time England had replied with four goals, three from Sarah Page.
Two goals in four second-half minutes, from Holly Chipman and Holly Brown, gave England's under-16s their second win over the hosts in two days.
Irish Senior Cup - Tomorrow - Quarter-finals: Hermes v Cork Harlequins, Booterstown, 1.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Lurgan, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Randalstown v Pegasus, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Ballymoney v Church of Ireland, Joey Dunlop Centre, 1.30.
Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup - Tomorrow - Semi-final: Railway Union v Loreto, Sandymount, 2.0.
Leinster League - Sunday - Division One: Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 2.0. Tomorrow - Division Two: UCD II v Corinthian II, Belfield, 11.15; Hermes II v Glenanne, Booterstown, 3.30; Pembroke Wanderers II v Genesis, Ballsbridge, 3.30; Loreto II v Old Alexandra II, Beaufort, 4.45; Railway Union II v Diocesan, Sandymount, 5.0.
