Old Alexandra will hope to maintain an impressive cup record against Ulster sides when they meet Ards tomorrow afternoon in the replay of their second-round Sharwoods-sponsored Irish Senior Cup match at Whitechurch.

In last season's competition, the Dublin team travelled to Coleraine in the second round and came away with a 5-0 victory. In the next round, they produced a memorable win, on penalty strokes, over Pegasus in Belfast and, last Saturday, had another successful trip north when they drew 1-1 with the Ulster Senior League leaders at the Ards Leisure Centre.

Ards will be boosted by the return of their captain, Irish international Julie Stewart, who damaged her hand in a recent league match against Pegasus. The winners of the tie go through to the quarter-finals on January 10th where they will meet Loreto.

Loreto are also in cup action this weekend, when they take on Glenanne in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup at Beaufort. Glenanne, who are currently fifth in the Leinster League, are one of this season's most improved teams and will not be taken lightly by Loreto, who only beat the Tallaght side with a late goal in their league meeting last month. Leinster Senior Cup holders Muckross will hope to put the disappointment of their Irish Cup exit at the hands of Collegians last weekend behind them when they meet Pembroke Wanderers at Rathdown while, at Belfield, Hermes's and Loreto's second teams meet in the third of the weekend's quarter-finals. The tie between the Hermes first team and Old Alexandra has been postponed because of Alex's Irish Cup replay against Ards.

Munster's two remaining representatives in the Irish Senior Cup, UCC and Belvedere, meet at the Mardyke on Sunday - a victory for the students will see them go a point clear of Harlequins at the top of the table. Meanwhile, the Irish Under-21 panel is in Italy this week for an intensive three day's training .