The last-16 stage of the Irish Junior Cup means that there will be little room for manoeuvre in senior league circles tomorrow. Notably, the Corinthians and Railway Union benches will be sparsely occupied, because of second XI commitments, when they meet at Whitechurch Park in a game which may have a considerable bearing on their efforts to gain a top three finish in Leinster (and a berth in the all-Ireland playoffs).
Corinthians won 4-1 earlier in the season but with Graham Berry now spreading the ball around for Railway, the issue is bound to be tightly balanced this time, possibly depending on whether Berry and Stevie Moulton can outscore Colin Stewart.
The other four matches involve leading teams against bottom-placed sides. The pace-setters Pembroke Wanderers will not win as extravagantly as the 9-1 margin recorded at home against Aer Lingus in October nor can Three Rock Rovers expect to beat YMCA as handsomely as 40. Indeed, YM may now be capable of holding Rovers at Ballinteer, but it is unlikely that Monkstown can repeat their 3-3 draw with Glenanne against the elements at Tallaght. Avoca, though they won only by 3-2 in Kilkenny, should have more to spare on the occasion of the southeasterners' visit to Dublin.
In the Junior Cup, Robbie Ryan - who scored Avoca's winner in the 1996 Senior Cup final against Lisnagarvey - is in quest of success with the second XI who meet Monkstown II in a local derby at Rathdown. Corinthians II have a tough away game against Instonians II whereas Railway II are at home to Mossley II.
The holders Three Rock II visit new territory at Ballynahinch while Glenanne's second string travel to Antrim. The winners of the Banbridge II-Lisnagarvey II tie may well be rated as favourites but there should also be some respect for the Munster pair, Harlequins B and Cork C of I B, who are hosts to Kilkeel and Newry.
In the warmth of the St Columba's College sportshall on Sunday, Avoca will defend the Leinster indoor cup as they prepare for European involvement in Prague in February.
