Redemption the buzzword as Munster trio set for Irish finals

Catholic Institute have an instant opportunity to bounce back from their Munster Senior Cup final defeat to Cork Harlequins in midweek, as they lock horns with Greenfields in the Irish Trophy final at Belfield on Sunday (1.30pm).

Institute are one of three Munster sides in national finals this weekend, and have further motivation to make their mark here, having lost last year’s decider to Ulster Elks.

However, coach Ger O’Carroll will have to plan without Irish international skipper Eimear Cregan, who is ineligible for national competitions having moved in mid-season from Quins.

Institute start as favourites on paper against a Greenfields side coached by Bryan Madden – who was formerly at the helm at Institute – and featuring Ireland U18 Brenda Flannery as their star name.

Institute's Kym Daly surges past Emma Clarke of Ulster Elks in last year's Irish Trophy final. The Rosbrien outfit will be looking to avenge that defeat, having reached the decider again this time around. Picture: Adrian Boehm

Meanwhile, Fermoy also have unfinished business in the Irish Challenge final, where they meet YMCA in a repeat of last year’s decider.

They will look to Trish Fitzpatrick, Natalie Keniry and Cork camogie star Orla Cotter to get the goals, as they bid to avenge last year’s penalty strokes defeat to the Dubliners.

Limerick are in action in the men’s final against St Brendan’s, who will be hoping Gaelic Players Association chairman Dessie Farrell will be able to line out, having been red-carded earlier in the competition.

The Treaty city club have had a fabulous season, reaching three cup finals, and they will be keen for veteran former Irish international Robbie Ryan to continue turning back the clock, aided by Stuart Greene, Amir Khan and Llewellyn Mooney.

Domestically, the probable destination of the Munster men’s title should be much clearer after the meeting of the top two, Quins and Cork C of I, at Harlequin Park tomorrow.

The sides drew 3-3 in their first league encounter before Christmas, but C of I have had the upper hand since then, winning 7-4 and 5-1 in domestic cup semi-finals.

While both sides still have to negotiate a potential upset at the hands of Bandon, the winner here is likely to go on to take the title.

Lombard brothers Paul and David return to the Quins squad following recent absences, as do ‘keeper Reinout Mensink and left-back Philip O’Driscoll.

Fermoy's Trish Fitzpatrick, Aine O'Brien, Liz Barry and Natalie Keniry can barely watch during their penalty strokes loss to YMCA in last season's Irish Challenge final. They get a shot at redemption in repeat of that decider against the same opposition this weekend. Picture: Stephen Findlater

Bandon have their own duel with UCC to concentrate on this weekend, knowing a victory will guarantee them an Irish Hockey League wildcard qualification spot.

It’s College’s last league encounter of the season, meaning the students must win and hope Bandon fail to pick up any points in the three games they have in hand, to snatch third place.

A 7-2 Bandon win in the reverse fixture suggests they will be favourites, and College will have to do a much better job of containing Ali Smith and Graham Kingston than they did that day.

Things remain too tight to call in the women’s league, with three points separating the top four.

UCC have the advantage for now, as they lead by a point and have a game in hand over all their rivals bar Quins, starting with a home clash with basement side UL which should yield another three points.

However, they will be without their Irish international duo Julia O’Halloran and Audrey O’Flynn, who are on Ireland duty.

Cork C of I head across town to face an in-form Quins, hoping to repeat their excellent spoiling work in the sides’ 1-1 draw a couple of weeks ago.

However, Quins are, ominously, on something of a roll having claimed a trophy and qualified for the last four of the IHL in the past six days. Nonetheless, neither side will be ruled out of the title race at this stage, no matter what the result.

In the other weekend clash – there are two more games down for decision in midweek – Bandon face Ashton with the title of ‘best of the rest’ up for grabs.

Both sides are now safe from relegation, and a Bandon win will guarantee them fifth place.

Meanwhile, it’s a big weekend for the ladies of Belvedere, as they contest three finals.

The Ballincollig club last night successfully won their battle to have the Division Two Cup final played at a neutral venue; their clash with C of I has been moved from Garryduff to Quins and will now take place at 4.45pm.

Having seen off Ashton 4-1 in the semi-final, Bryan O’Donovan’s side – who should finish in a league position good enough to entitle them to a shot at promotion – won’t lack self-belief going into this clash.

Forward Ann-Marie Dooley and defender Liz Clifford are the side’s lynchpins, though they will have to beware the threat of the likes of Rachel O’Hanlon and veteran Cathy Walsh in the opposition ranks.

Belvedere are also contesting the Division Three Cup final against Dungarvan at Garryduff (2pm), with coach Paul Desmond inevitably looking to joint skippers Edel Murphy and Sarah Quaid for inspiration.

Allyson Moore – who impressed in Mount Mercy’s run to the Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup final – is another to watch out for, with pace to burn and a neat line in one-handed stick control, while Deirdre Cronin has intervarsity experience from earlier this season with CIT.

It’s also a big weekend for Belvedere’s Division 6 side, who contest that tier’s plate final against Limerick – come Saturday evening, the Ballincollig club will hope they have plenty of celebrating to be doing.

C of I and Limerick also have other teams involved in a decider, as they meet at Roosbrien in the Division Five Cup final.

BELVEDERE squad for Div 3 Cup final: Katie O’Sullivan Waters (GK); Chloe O’Sullivan, Orna Dorgan, Michelle Scott, Davina Fenton, Deirdre Cronin, Avril O’Brien, Sarah Desmond, Julie Cronin, Nessa Donnelly, Trish Moran, Allyson Moore, Sarah Quaid (joint capt), Elaine Murphy, Fionnualla Lombard, Cliona O’Callaghan McCarthy, Edel Murphy (joint capt). Coach: Paul Desmond.

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Limerick vs St Brendan’s (Belfield, 4pm)

Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Cork C of I (Harlequin Park, 1,45pm); UCC vs Bandon (Mount Mercy, 11.30am).

Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: Catholic Institute vs Greenfields (Sunday, Belfield, 1.30pm)

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final: Fermoy vs YMCA (Belfield, 1.30pm)

Women’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Cork C of I (Harlequin Park, 12pm); UCC vs UL (Mount Mercy, 1.30pm); Ashton vs Bandon (Ashton School, 12.30pm).

Women’s Div 2 Cup final: Belvedere vs C of I (Harlequin Park, 4.45pm)

Women’s Div 3 Cup final: Belvedere vs Dungarvan (Garryduff, 2pm)

Women’s Div 6 Plate final: Belvedere vs Limerick (Ballincollig, 12pm).