Having revived their league title hopes with a crucial win over Old Alexandra last weekend Loreto now turn their attention to the Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup where All-Ireland champions Pegasus stand between them and a place in the quarter-finals. The match is one of four second round ties between Leinster and Ulster sides, all of which take place in Dublin tomorrow - cup holders Hermes, Old Alexandra and Pembroke Wanderers play Ards, Collegians and Randalstown, respectively.
Pegasus are unbeaten in all competitions since losing last season's cup final to Hermes and have only been held to a draw once, by Portadown, this season. Despite losing Jeanette Turner to Portadown and Tamara Stronge to Ards this summer it has been business as usual for the Belfast club, with the arrival of Irish senior international Karen Humphries and Canadian Heather Andrews. Loreto, though, will fancy their chances of a victory on home territory, having run in to some good form in the league recently and will be significantly boosted by the availability of both their Australian imports, Peta Gallagher and Bronwyn Donnelly. At the same stage of last year's competition Hermes travelled to Ards and came away with a 5-0 victory so they should go in to their home tie against the same opposition in confident form but Old Alexandra might be wary of Collegians who put up impressive shows against Portadown and Pegasus in the last fortnight, losing only by 2-1 and 2-0 margins to Ulster's big two.
Randalstown, who lost again on Tuesday night to Ards, and will do well to hold Pembroke Wanderers at Serpentine Avenue, but the three remaining Ulster sides in the cup - Ballymoney, Portadown and Victorians - will all have high hopes of reaching the last eight. Ballymoney will expect to make the most of home advantage against UCC but the students will look for a repeat of the form that helped them win at Coleraine in the last round. Portadown should prove too strong at home for the University of Limerick while NUIG will struggle to overcome Victorians at Dangan. The final tie of the round is an all-Munster affair, with Harlequins meeting Church of Ireland at Farmer's Cross at 12.30 p.m.
