WOMEN'S HOCKEY: There'll barely be an idle hockey pitch over the weekend with so many league and cup fixtures scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday, the bulk of them taking place in the first round of the Irish Junior Cup which will see 40 teams in action.
It would have been 46 teams but for the withdrawal from the competition of Ballyclare II, Naas and the PSNI, giving the second teams of Cork Harlequins, Priorians and Clontarf walkovers.
Loreto II open the defence of the cup they won last season for the first time since 1955 when they take on Corinthian II at Whitechurch, while April's beaten finalists, Old Alexandra II, have a home draw against Knock II.
In Munster, Church of Ireland, the early league leaders, will attempt to make it five wins out of five when they play the University of Limerick at Garryduff, while champions Cork Harlequins, three points behind with a game in hand, will also be looking to maintain their perfect start to the season against Catholic Institute.
Clontarf and Trinity got off the mark on Wednesday night when their 2-2 draw gave them their first point of the Leinster first division campaign. Both are at home for their games tomorrow, with Clontarf playing UCD and Trinity meeting Three Rock.
While Pembroke Wanderers will expect to retain their unbeaten run when they play Corinthian in Ballsbridge, the Division's Two other undefeated sides, leaders Hermes and third-placed Railway Union, should face significantly tougher tests. Hermes are at home to Old Alexandra, currently fourth, while Railway hosts champions Loreto at Park Avenue.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One - Tomorrow: Trinity v Three Rock, Santry, 12.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Corinthian, Ballsbridge, 2.0; Clontarf v UCD, Clontarf, 2.15; Hermes v Old Alexandra, Booterstown, 1.0; Railway Union v Loreto, Sandymount, 3.30.
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One - Sunday: Bandon v Belvedere, Bandon, 3.0; Cork Harlequins v Catholic Institute, Harlequin Park, 2.0; Church of Ireland v Univ of Limerick, Garryduff, 2.30; UCC v Ashton, Mardyke, 10.0.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - First round - Tomorrow: Wexford v Ards II, Kilkenny College, 12.30; Muckross v Galway Teresian School, Donnybrook, 1.0; Genesis v Skerries, Belfield, 4.0; Belfast Harlequins II v Diocesan, Deramore Park, 1.0; Corinthian II v Loreto II, Whitechurch, 1.0; Greenfields v North Kildare, Mervue, 3.0; Univ of Limerick II v Pegasus II, Univ of Limerick, 1.30; Larne v Three Rock II, Jordanstown, 1.0; Suttonians v Carrickfergus, Sutton Park, 2.0; Kilkenny v Randalstown II, Kilkenny College, 1.30; Trinity II v Banbridge, Santry, 2.0; Aer Lingus v Waterford II, ALSAA, 2.30; Our Lady's v Raphoe, Terenure, 1.0; Hermes II v Kilkeel, Booterstown, 3.0; UCD II v Lurgan, Belfield, 12.30; Lisnagarvey II v NUIG, Hillsborough, 2.30; Old Alexandra II v Knock II, Milltown, 1.30; Bray v Railway Union II, Bray, 2.15; Church of Ireland II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Garryduff, 2.30; Glenanne v UUJ, Tallaght, 2.30.
MAY COSTLEY CUP - Second round draw: Kilkenny ll v Yeats County, Mallow v NUIG ll, Dungarvan v Enniscorthy, Midleton v Dromore, Avoca v Carlow or Weston, Derg Valley v Wexford ll, Athlone v UUJ ll, Moyne Thurles or Gorey v Cooke. Ties to be played November 19th.
