Ulster trio battle for Irish honours

Hockey

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Ulster representatives Cookstown, Banbridge and Lisnagarvey all believe they know the key to progress in the All-Ireland Club championships which takes place from today through to Monday at Garvey's Hillsborough ground.

Three games in three days often takes its toll, and that's why they know that strength in depth will ultimately decide whether any of them can make it through to the semi-final and final stages later this month in Dublin.

It used to be a regular occurrence that Ulster teams won this competition which offers a place in the Eurohockey League - Garvey and Instonians, for example, have won it four times each in its 15-year history.

But last season no Ulster team made it through it the last four, and there's a strong belief in the south that all three Leinster representatives will make it through with the other likely to come from Cork.

Ulster champions Cookstown reckon they are the province's best hope, with a free-scoring attack, a creative midfield and a defence that doesn't like to concede goals.

Coaches Geoff Hamilton and Michael Haycock know they have a good balance of youth and experience and a reasonable strength in depth too. But today's opening game against Garvey will go a long way in deciding whether they can make it or not.

Banbridge coach Suzanne Evans has a few carrying injuries but with talisman Eugene Magee available, she knows that her squad can give Cork Harlequins and the fancied Leinster duo Three Rock and Glenanne a run for their money in the other pool.

It's also an important weekend for Instonians who need to land one of the two wild card entries on offer for next season's All-Ireland League.

TODAY

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A: Cookstown v Lisnagarvey (11.30am); Pembroke v Cork C of I (4pm).

Pool B: Glenanne v Three Rock Rovers (12.30pm); Banbridge v Cork Harlequins (3pm).

All-Ireland League Wild Card play-offs: Instonians v Fingal (2pm).

TOMORROW

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A: Pembroke v Cookstown (11am); Lisnagarvey v Cork C of I (2pm).

Pool B: Three Rock Rovers v Cork Harlequins (12noon); Banbridge v Glenanne (3.30pm).

All-Ireland League Wild Card play-offs: Bandon v Fingal (1.30pm).

MONDAY

All-Ireland club championships (at Lisnagarvey): Pool A:Pembroke v Lisnagarvey (10.30pm); Cookstown v Cork C of I (2pm).

Pool B: Glenanne v Cork Harlequins (11.30pm); Three Rock Rovers v Banbridge (3pm).