MEN'S HOCKEY: Fourteen of the last 16 teams in the Irish Senior Cup could not have asked for a better clash this round than the one that takes place in Annadale tomorrow.
With Dublin's accepted strongest side, Pembroke Wanderers, drawn against the new powerhouse in Ulster hockey Annadale, one of the two sides capable of winning the cup this season will be going out of the competition before the quarter finals.
For Pembroke, striker Justin Sherriff is back from his snowboarding and should slot comfortably into a team that still carries a few injuries. Alan and Simon Kershaw are struggling; Alan injured an ankle last Sunday in Pembroke's second of two matches over the weekend.
Not too many smiling faces in Serpentine Avenue over that scheduling six days before the Irish Cup fixture.
Richard Gash is still out while Gordon Elliott is also sidelined and probably will be until the end of the season with a difficult groin injury.
The teams last met three season's ago, which is hardly relevant given the speed at which the Belfast side has risen through the ranks. Chris Jackson in midfield and David Smyth at the back have been the backbone of the talented young side, who managed to put eight goals past Corinthians in the last round.
Another serious Pembroke concern will be Ian Hamilton's ability to place his drag flicks just where he wants them at corners and in that respect Pembroke are fortunate to have Irish goalkeeper Nigel Henderson primarily responsible for keeping them out. Hamilton has netted 34 goals this season.
"We've our work cut out. But we always do reasonably well when we travel north. They are a good side. Any team that can put eight past Corinthians must be," said Henderson.
Elsewhere Glenanne face a difficult passage when they meet Raphoe in St Mark's. The Tallaght side have enough ability to get through this one, once they play to their potential but a few times this season the inexperience has shown.
Dublin also hosts what should be a lively game at Santry where Trinity meet Cork Harlequins. Another team expected to push for honours, the visitors and their international bunch of players, will be fully expect to advance against a capable student side, who should not be taken lightly.
While Kilkeel may press Three Rock Rovers at home, the Grange Road side will expect to come through with greater strength all round while Railway Union will certainly travel to Belfast more in hope than expectation. Instonians are the hosts and anything other than a clear victory for them would be a major shock.
UCD are probably in the same boat as Railway Union. Travelling to Ulster, where the strength of sides is broader based than anywhere else, is always fraught with difficulty. Cookstown will ensure the Belfield side's visit is anything but comfortable.
SATURDAY: IRISH SENIOR CUP: Fourth round: Annadale v Pembroke, Lough Moss 2.30; UCD v Cookstown, Belfield 1.15; Glenanne v Raphoe St Mark's 1.00; NICS v Cliftonville, Stormont 2.30; Dublin University v Cork Harlequins, Santry 3.00; Lisnagarvey v Bangor, 2.30 Banbridge 2.30; Instonians v Railway Union, QUB 1.00; Kilkeel v Three Rock Rovers, Kilkeel High School 2.30.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: Division One: Monkstown V YMCA (rescheduled) 1.15 St. Andrew's. Division Two: Weston v Skerries 2.00 King's Hospital; Clontarf v St. Brendan's 12.00 DCU; Portrane v Naas 1.00 Portrane; St. James's Gate v Bray 2.00 Iveagh Grounds; Avoca v Suttonians 1:30 Rathdown.
