With five Leinster teams in the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup, Dublin focus will fall on the two double headers at Rathdown and Claremont Road, where Monkstown face Railway Union and YMCA host Pembroke Wanderers.

Whichever sides do go through to the next round they will have long wait ahead as the semi-final of the competition doe not take place until March of next year.

Monkstown, who beat the students of UCD in a tight affair in round two, are hoping to go one better this year and have a decent chance of advancing with home advantage.

Railway Union, who clinched their quarter-final spot after comprehensively beating NICS, will have to significantly step up as Monkstown represent a far stiffer challenge than the Ulster side.

In Sandymount YMCA and Pembroke is more difficult to call. Pembroke probably have the better finishing power with the likes of Alan Sothern and although there is some home advantage, Pembroke, fresh from their penalty stroke win over IHL champions Lisnagarvey, travel as favourites. YMCA who recorded a 9-0 win over UCC will look once again to Krystian Makowski, who grabbed a hat-trick last week.

Reigning champions Cork Harlequins welcome Banbridge to Harlequins Park at 2.30pm in a repeat of last year’s quarter-final. The Ulster side will be looking to avenge last season’s defeat, a game which the Cork side won 2-1. Again home advantage may prove to be an important factor.

Three Rock Rovers welcome Kilkeel to Grange Road at 2pm. Having come through a difficult game against Instonians in the last round, Rovers will be hoping Peter Blakeney continues his goal scoring spree although they face stiff test as Kilkeel, who beat Avoca 5-1 last time out.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday– Men's Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals: YMCA v Pembroke Wanderers, Claremont Road, 1.30; Monkstown v Railway Union, Rathdown, 2.30; Cork Harlequins v Banbridge, Harlequins Park, 2.30; Three Rock Rovers v Kilkeel. Grange Road, 2pm.

(Draw for semi-final will be made early next year.)