Quins and Glens set for another battle royale

Cork Harlequins resume an often-fractious recent rivalry with Glenanne tomorrow when the Dubliners visit Harlequin Park for a vital Irish Hockey League Pool A encounter.

Clashes between these two in recent seasons have yielded plenty of entertainment, with 13 goals coming in their past two meetings.

But there’s unlikely to be a shortage of needle either, dating back to an ill-tempered Irish Senior Cup semi-final encounter at the same venue two seasons ago.

John Hobbs (left) is set to wear the captain's armband for Quins in the absence of Paul Lombard, who is suspended. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Glens came back from 3-1 down to win that day, prompting then-skipper John Goulding to confidently proclaim that his side were certain to go on and win the final.

They duly dispatched Annadale 4-3, which came as no consolation to 2006 champions Quins, who had seen a late David Egner equaliser given, then subsequently chalked off in the semi-final.

Glens subsequently scuppered Quins’ Club Championship ambitions last term, battling to a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Paul Lombard picked up a red card in that game which means he is suspended for tomorrow’s clash, with John Hobbs taking over the captaincy in his absence.

However, manager Donal Kingston insisted history won’t count for much when the sides meet again.

“I don’t think the previous games will play a part; there’s been a lot of change in the teams, lots of new fellas who wouldn’t be familiar with the past,” he said.

“Obviously, there is motivation in terms of wanting to prove you can beat a team who have turned you over in the past.”

Quins lost their opening IHL encounter 2-1 at Pembroke Wanderers last month but picked up a losing bonus point, and have hit some notable form since.

“We’ve been playing well all season but we weren’t sharp enough against C of I (lost 2-0) or Pembroke so we didn’t get the results,” Kingston explained.

“But we picked up our form and got a great result in Garryduff (defeating C of I 4-2 in the Peard Cup) and three of those goals came from play, which helps the confidence. If you’re not as reliant on short corners that helps everybody.”

Meanwhile, Glenanne’s Stephen Butler goes into this game with an endorsement from new Irish coach Paul Revington ringing in his ears.

C of I's Jonny Bruton returns to Havelock Park, where he scored on his international debut last weekend, as his side take on Banbridge. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Ireland’s most-capped international missed last weekend’s three-game series against Scotland due to work commitments, sparking speculation over his future commitment.

But Revington insisted the 28-year-old was “absolutely and utterly part of the plan”, adding that it would be a “folly” for a new coach to discard a man with 70 goals to his credit.

Butler insists his desire to reach the finals of a major tournament still burns brightly, but for now he will be focused on inflicting more misery on Quins.

Elsewhere in Pool A, the meeting of Pembroke and Instonians will evoke memories for both sides of the 2007 Irish Senior Cup semi-final, when Inst reeled in a 3-0 deficit in the final ten minutes, only to be beaten by a golden goal in extra-time.

Pembroke will be without Irish international defender Tim Lewis, who suffered a nasty mouth injury against Scotland last weekend, but German Florian Richter will be involved.

Inst have picked up just seven points from six games in Ulster this season, but are still within touching distance of leaders Cookstown in an ultra-competitive league.

They welcome back former Irish captain Paddy Brown, but are still without long-term injury victims Mark Gleghorne and Steven Redpath.

The other meeting in the pool sees an all-Ulster clash between Cookstown and Annadale, with the former’s Andy Barbour is the only major injury worry for either side.

In Pool B, Three Rock Rovers put an unbeaten run stretching back to February’s Leinster Senior Cup loss to Glenanne on the line when they travel to ALSAA to play Fingal.

The treatment room is still doing overtime at Grange Road as Rovers coach Turloch Ó Siocháin gets to grips with a raft of injuries, but the country’s most dangerous striking partnership of Mitch Darling and Peter Blakeney remains intact.

Rovers will also welcome back Kyle Good and Neal Megarity from Leinster U18 duty, and Spanish import Ferran Pijoran Bori is set to make his IHL debut.

Fingal, surprise leaders in Leinster until recently, will be looking to bounce back from a 6-2 mauling at the hands of Cork C of I last time out, but are sweating on the fitness of Paddy Gahan and Chris Neville, with Ben Chillingworth definitely ruled out.

Elsewhere, C of I’s Jonny Bruton will be hoping Havelock Park – where he scored the winner against Scotland on his international debut last Sunday – continues to be a happy hunting ground as the Munster champions travel to play Banbridge.

Alan Sothern will be hoping to continue his recent free-scoring form as Pembroke travel to Instonians. Picture: Adrian Boehm

The final game in Pool B sees Lisnagarvey go in search of revenge for last season’s Irish Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Monkstown when the sides meet at Rathdown.

In the women’s IHL, Belfast Harlequins will be hoping the good vibes from Ulster’s dramatic U18 interpros win last weekend rubs off, as they welcome back teen starlets Jenna Watt, Kirsty Lammey and Ruth Millar for their clash with C of I.

The Cork girls weren’t as convincing as they would have liked in a 1-0 win over Randalstown on day one, but they will benefit from a useful friendly hit-out against local rivals Quins last Friday night, played under IHL rules.

Elsewhere in Pool A, Randalstown visit Leinster pace-setters Railway Union, while Pegasus – again utterly dominant in Ulster this season, having yet to concede a league goal – travel to Beaufort to take on pool leaders Loreto.

In Pool B, Cork Harlequins will look to build on the valuable draw earned at Ballymoney when they host Pembroke, whose Jekyll and Hyde form domestically makes this a tough one to call.

Hermes welcome back ex-international Jenny Burke as they take on Armagh, who are without long-term injury victims Steph Quinn and Irish Examiner Junior Sports Star Amy Stewart, for the first time ever.

Finally, Mary Logue’s UCD side, riding high in Leinster this season, lock horns with Ballymoney at Belfield. The northerners will be boosted by the return of former Irish captain Lynsey McVicker, who has returned from her honeymoon.