Just over a year ago, Cork C of I edged Avoca out of the Irish Senior Cup, 4-3 after extra-time at Garryduff, in one of the most rousing ties of last season's campaign. Tomorrow, at home in the first round, Avoca have an opportunity to reverse their fortunes in one of the most crowded weekends of 1997/98 when the completion of the first half of the Leinster League provides extra zest.
In the Nissan-sponsored all-Ireland competition, the Avoca meeting with C of I stands out among the 15 games. There are not a lot of changes in either side, though Avoca will miss Robbie Ryan's robust presence while the Cork side have lost striker Darren Hanna to Pembroke Wanderers.
Uniquely now, in the C of I reshuffle, the centre-back combination sees the 76 times capped World Cup player Ger Burns (32) lining up with his brother, under16 international Karl. Vitally, Alastair Dunne has resumed action after exams, for it was the Ireland midfielder's storming performance which made the difference in last year's match.
However, after an unsettled three-defeat start to the season, Avoca have embarked on an unbeaten run which, with their European experience, they may well astutely maintain tomorrow, particularly through their more accomplished figures, notably Colin Hade and Anton Scott. Both Dunne and Munster under-21 attacker Colin Hanna, though, will need to be tightly marked.
Another all-premier division tie in Dublin involves Three Rock Rovers and YMCA at Grange Road, but with Angus Dunlop back to lend steadiness to the defence, it would be logical if Rovers repeated a 3-0 league win.
The Holywood-Cookstown pairing carries most weight of the games in Ulster. Bandon make a long trek to Newry while Raphoe travel the greatest distance to tackle UCC at The Mardyke. The prize for the Donegal side would be a home tie in the next stage against Glenanne.
Among Leinster's second division sides with particularly daunting assignments are St James's Gate and Clontarf, away to Lisnagarvey, the holders, and Instonians, respectively.
St Brendan's/Phoenix Park, including such stalwarts as Fran Brennan and Paddy Gahan, may find Pembroke pacing themselves to a degree because of their key Statoil league match against Glenanne on Sunday.
Pembroke, despite their 100 per cent record, will feel vulnerable at St Mark's where the drag-flick duel between Stephen Butler, Glenanne's top marksman, and Ireland goalkeeper Nigel Henderson may be matched with equal intensity at the other end between Stephen Stewart and the home captain, Ian Clarke. A draw is quite on the cards but full points are what Glenanne really require to keep in the running along with, possibly, Corinthians, who are hosts to Three Rock.
Also on Sunday, St James's Gate officially open their new pitch at the historic Iveagh Grounds, involving various competitive and social activities, including a veterans' match against Railway Union. This will be played under ancient rules embracing the bully-off, roll-in, hand-stop and offside from halfway, perish the thought.
