MENS HOCKEY: Glennane are set to meet Instonians in the last match of the three-day club championship finals at Belfield this weekend. Maybe the organisers feel this could be the deciding match of the round-robin event, the 2000-winners Glenanne against the cup and league champions of 1998, Instonians.
Cork Harlequins, who must feel confident after dismissing Lisnagarvey from the finals, and first-timers Corinthians, will doubtlessly have much to say about that rather simple equation.
While Harlequins hope and expect their captain Jason Black to recover sufficiently from a minor ankle injury, they've little reason to fear any of the sides in their quest for a first major trophy.
Glenanne, expecting that Stephen Butler will be available for at least some of the tournament, also welcome back Roly O'Donoghue, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
It is Glenanne's last chance to secure a place in Europe next season, an Instonians championship win ensuring that beaten Irish Cup finalists Pembroke would travel to the Cup Winners' Cup as the second Irish team.
But Harlequins also have old scores to settle with the Dublin side. Glenanne's spirited comeback against the Cork side in the Irish Senior Cup from 3-0 down to finally win the match in a shoot-out still rankles around Farmer's Cross. They believe they've sorted things out since that depressing episode and a significant travelling support from Cork to cheer both the men's and women's sides ought to instil vigour into an already lively team.
Corinthians are the outsiders and that's how they like it to be. Written off in their return trip to C of I, the experience of coach Jonathan Cole's "trillion" Irish caps is clearly bearing fruit.
The Australian four - Colin Stewart, James Benson, Dan Williams and Aaron Clauson - should also be released with great effect, while goalkeeper Charlie Henderson misses out on a family affair with the unqualified Pembroke, where his brother Nigel plays.
Instonians' strengths are known by everyone. Well structured with poise and tactical nous, Paddy Brown begins moves from defence while captain Julian Lewis and Chris Barnes can finish them.
Beating an out-of-sorts Pembroke in the qualifying stages was an indication that the Belfast side know how to lever out wins from difficult games, but when Pembroke occasionally opened up so too did Instonian's defence, goalkeeper Nigel Skillen securing their trip to Dublin this weekend.
IRISH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS (Belfield)
Saturday
Glenanne v Corinthians 12.00; Instonians v Cork Harlequins 2:00.
Sunday
Instonians v Corinthians, 10:00; Glenanne v Cork Harlequins 4:00
Monday
Cork Harlequins v Corinthians 11:30; Instonians v Glenanne 4:00.
