MEN'S HOCKEY:Lisnagarvey can expect bigger away support than normal at their Hillsborough ground on Saturday from Garryduff as the Cork C of I men's and women's teams are both involved in Irish Senior Cup ties against the Ulster club. Both matches take place at 2.30pm.
It is a weekend packed with games and many former winners still vying for the trophy, with Leinster Senior League leaders Glenanne entertaining Corinthians at Tallaght and Pembroke Wanderers making the relatively less exacting trip to north Dublin to face Suttonians.
But there is also a common theme running through the top clubs in Leinster and Cork: they have all been banging in goals with abandon over the last few matches. C of I hit 22 in their last two outings and last weekend Pembroke netted 11 against Bray and eight against Skerries, while Glennane beat Kilkenny with seven goals last Saturday and followed it up with seven more against Suttonians in the Leinster Cup on Sunday.
That's not great preparation for what will be tough matches for C of I against 'Garvey and Glenanne against Corinthians. Confidence will be high but both sides will have to step it up considerably, especially C of I.
Elsewhere, Bangor's game against 2006 cup winners Cork Harlequins should test the Farmers Cross side, while Bray will hope to get over last week's rout when they host Belfast Harlequins.
At last weekend's junior inter-provincials in Cork, Leinster achieved notable success in winning the under-18 and under-16 titles for the first time in 12 years, thereby breaking Ulster's dominance. Leinster have been developing their underage squads over the last two years. The under-18s defeated Ulster 2-0, having earlier beaten Munster 5-2.
The performances were led at the back by Brian Doherty and Stuart Loughrey, with midfielders David Carson and Stephen Cole dominating and crucial goals were scored by Andrew Ward and Kyle Good.
MEN'S IRISH SENIOR CUP:Bangor v Cork Harlequins, Ballykillaire Sports Ground, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v Bray, Deramore, 1pm; Antrim v Bandon, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Kilkeel v Banbridge, McCauley Park, 2.30; Cookstown v Cliftonville, Coolnafranky, 2.30; PSBPP v Catholic Institute, Dardistown, 1.30; Lisnagarvey v Cork C of I, Hillsborough, 2.30; Suttonians v Pembroke Wanderers, Sutton Park, 1.15; Mossley v Annadale, The Glade, 2.30; Belvedere v Fingal, Ballincollig, 2pm; Ballynahinch v Instonians, Donard Park, 1pm; Three Rock Rovers v UCD, Grange Road, 1pm; Glenanne v Corinthians, Glenanne Park, 2.45; YMCA v NICS, Claremont Road, 2pm; Dublin University v Kilkenny, Santry, 2pm; Monkstown v Railway Union, Rathdown, 1.30.
