Women's Hockey:There's plenty of competition for the "tie of the round" tag in tomorrow's ESB Irish Senior Cup third round fixtures, with the draw producing more than a few intriguing pairings. Amongst the most appealing ties is the meeting of Old Alexandra and Hermes at Milltown, a repeat of last year's final.
Hermes are going for a three-in-a-row in the competition, with Alexandra seeking their first success since 1991, but there was nothing between the teams when they met in the league earlier in the season, the game at Booterstown finishing 2-2.
Cork Harlequins and Loreto have also had their fair share of meetings in recent seasons, in both cup and All-Ireland league games, and the Munster champions meet their Leinster rivals yet again at Farmer's Cross.
Pegasus host Belfast Harlequins at Queen's in the round's only all-Ulster tie, while Church of Ireland travel north to play Ards aiming for a repeat of last year's 3-2 success.
C of I include their new Australian player Tara Matthews in their squad after she arrived recently from Brisbane where she played hockey at state level.
There are four Leinster v Ulster pairings in the round, with Pembroke Wanderers hosting a talented young Armagh side and UCD at home to Randalstown who already have a trophy to their name this season having beaten Armagh in the Ulster Shield final.
Ballymoney, the 2001 cup winners, play Railway Union at the Joey Dunlop Centre, while Lurgan host Corinthian in Craigavon.
FIXTURES
LEINSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE CUP:final (at Grange Road) - Today: Loreto Beaufort v St Andrew's, 2.30.
IRISH SENIOR CUP:Third round - Tomorrow: UCD v Randalstown, Belfield, 12.45; Pegasus v Belfast Harlequins, Queen's, 1.0; Cork Harlequins v Loreto, Farmer's Cross, 1.0; Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 1.15; Pembroke Wanderers v Armagh, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0; Ards v Cork Church of Ireland, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.0; Lurgan v Corinthian, Craigavon Leisure Centre, 2.30; Ballymoney v Railway Union, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30.
MAY COSTLEY CUP:Second round - Saturday: Carlow v Midleton, St Leo's, 1.0; Dungarvan v Gorey, Dungarvan, 1.0; Enniskillen II v Dromore, Irvinestown, 2.30; Cooke v Moyne- Thurles, Shawsbridge, 2.30. Sunday: DCU v Holywood, DCU, 1.0; Clonmel v Wexford II, Canon Hayes Sports Complex, 2.0; Mallow v Portlaoise, Farmer's Cross, 2.30.
