It's round two of the Irish Senior Cup tomorrow and holders UCD host Railway Union, the team that beat them in the 2013 final before the students got the better of them in last season's semi-finals.
UCD are favourites to progress this time after a flawless start to the season while Railway have had a hiccup or two in their rebuilding phase. That game is one of three all-Leinster affairs: Old Alexandra are hoping for better fortunes when they face a Hermes side that beat them 8-1 in the league in September while Corinthian and Glenanne, who tied second from the bottom of the Leinster first division, meet at Whitechurch.
Two Ulster sides are guaranteed to advance with Belfast Harlequins hosting Ballymoney and league leaders Ulster Elks away to Lurgan, while Pegasus travel to Dublin to take on Pembroke Wanderers who have had a promising start to the season with three wins and two draws out of their six league games so far.
Munster's two remaining representatives are both away from home. Cork Harlequins travel to Galway to face Connacht champions Greenfields who had a fine 1-1 draw at Ards in the Irish Hockey League a fortnight ago.
And Cork Church of Ireland make the long journey north to face Lisnagarvey who, if studying the Munster league table to check their opponents’ form, might have been a little taken aback to see they’ve scored 35 goals in just five games. The bulk of them came in the 28-0 victory over University of Limerick.
WEEKEND FIXTURES – Irish Senior Cup (second round) – Saturday: Belfast Harlequins v Ballymoney, Deramore Park, 2.30; Corinthian v Glenanne, St Columba's College, 12.45; Greenfields v Cork Harlequins, Dangan, 2.30; Lisnagarvey v Church of Ireland, Comber, 2.30; Lurgan v Ulster Elks, Lurgan JHS, 2.30; Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 3.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Pegasus, Serpentine Avenue,12.30; UCD v Railway Union, Belfield, 1.0.
