Institute eye shock cup final win

Note: Initial fixture, set for December 26, was postponed due to a frozen pitch and will be re-fixed for the new year.

Catholic Institute will be hoping history repeats itself almost a quarter of a century on as they face the daunting task of toppling unbackable favorites Cork Church of Ireland in Saturday’s Peard Cup final at Rosbrien (1pm).

The Limerick club’s last appearance in a senior men’s cup final was in 1985, when Eddie Cummins hit the winner against C of I on the grass at Garryduff.

It’s been a barren period for Institute since, and last season they even came close to demoting their first team to Division Two due to the nature of the hammering they were taking in the top tier.

However, it’s been all change at Rosbrien this term; Institute have become a far more difficult side to beat under new coach Ollie O’Connor, as C of I found to their cost back in October.

Simon Brickenden (right) will once again be central to Institute's challenge as they bid to down Cork C of I in the Peard Cup final. Picture courtesy of InstituteHockey.ie

Having put 11 past Institute in the corresponding fixture the previous term, Stephen Jackson’s side this time laboured to a 2-0 victory, with Institute left kicking themselves as seven penalty corner chances went astray.

Since then, Institute have seen off the second string sides of both C of I and Cork Harlequins en route to this decider, though O’Connor is waxing philosophical about his side’s chances in the St Stephen’s Day showdown.

“I know that (on paper) Institutes could not beat C of I firsts,” he explained. “All you have to do is look at their panel, they have numerous internationals and those that aren’t internationals are current senior interpros or underage interpros.

“Compare that to Institute, who have Simon Brickenden, a Munster U21 interpro – how could we possibly beat C of I? But you know what, funny things happen in sport.

“Institute of 2009 have a new discipline about them, and will match C of I in effort and determination; each and every member of the panel will give 100% for 70 minutes or more, if needs be.”

Giving Institute all the more motivation is the decision to play the final in Limerick – “a first division cup final being played in north Munster is a rare occasion”, admitted O’Connor – while it is also the club’s centenary year.

“We have always had good hockey players, the difference this year is we are a little bit more organised on and off the pitch,” he added. “It’s been peaks and troughs all year for us so far; let’s hope we are heading for a peak over Christmas.

“We have three very tough games over the next three weeks – one is this cup final, and there’s also the quarter-final of the Irish Trophy; if we win two out of three we will be very pleased.”

Standing in their way on Saturday is a C of I team that has found real form in recent weeks after a shaky start to the season, notably in the semi-finals of this competition.

That day, talisman John Jermyn hit their first five goals as they raced into a 6-1 lead against a shell-shocked Cork Harlequins side, eventually running out 7-4 winners.

Institute must ensure they minimise the number of corners conceded, so not to allow Jermyn a chance to repeat that haul, though their own attacking prospects have been dented by the unavailability of Spanish hitman Albert Valls.

Peard Cup final: Catholic Institute vs Cork Church of Ireland, Rosbrien, St Stephen’s Day, 1pm.