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Greg Thompson leads Cookstown into battle of the high-scorers in Irish Senior Cup

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Jonny Bruton is also in action for Cork C of I as player-manager. Credit: Sportsfile

Jonny Bruton is also in action for Cork C of I as player-manager. Credit: Sportsfile

Jonny Bruton is also in action for Cork C of I as player-manager. Credit: Sportsfile

How strong the leading lights in the regional leagues are will be put to the test today in the men’s Irish Senior Cup as high-flying Cookstown make the trip to Railway Union in round two.

Captained by Greg Thompson, the Tyrone side head the Ulster Premier table on goal difference, scoring 24 times in the process, with Stu Smyth, Mark Crooks and Ryan Millar bringing experience to the table.

Railway, though, have been even more free-flowing having already scored more than 50 goals this term, including six against Mossley in round one of this cup and hitting double figures twice, with Mark English and Rob Abbott running riot.

It is one of two ties in the men’s competition not to feature an EYHL top-tier side, with Cork C of I against Bandon the other one.

Both have gone unbeaten after four rounds of the Munster top tier, with C of I edging things by a point at this early stage with a perfect start to life under the now player-coach Jonny Bruton (right).

Jonny Spillane has also impressed since his arrival from Midleton while the addition of youth internationals Ian Balding and Rory Treacy from Waterford has given them a large panel to work with.

It is one which looks well equipped to make a charge for promotion back to the top tier of the EY Hockey League despite the departure of Kevin O’Dea to UCD.

For Bandon, the timeless Dave Smith continues to bang in the goals and, despite their young age, Ian Perrott, Karl Smyth and Ethan Hamilton-Foott have amassed lots of experience which they will aim to call on in this showdown.

Harlequins are the third Munster side involved at the last-16 stage but have the toughest draw on offer, travelling to Glenanne who have a perfect record of five wins from five in the top tier.

Quins did win 5-0 at Clontarf in round one but this will be a hard ask against an in-form opposition and they will need top gun Jack O’Meara to fire.

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Elsewhere, in a quirk of the fixture list, Three Rock Rovers will meet Corinthian and YMCA are up against UCD for the second time in a week. Rovers beat the reds in the EY Hockey League last Saturday 4-1 while the students drew with YM 3-3.
In the women’s competition, EYHL table-toppers Pegasus host Ulster Premier side Ulster Elks in a derby contest while, nearby, Queen’s welcome UCC – victors over Monkstown in round one – to the Dub with youth internationals Jessica McMaster and Caoimhe Perdue likely to lock horns.

Defensively, the Cork side have been superb, Perdue marshalling a side that have conceded just three times in five outings while Elva Kerr, Hilary Balding and Rebecca Kingston are also kicking on.

Harlequins will hope to find form against an impressive Pembroke. Eddie Gash’s side have not scored since the opening day of the campaign and will find things difficult against an impressive outfit who are a point off top spot in the EYHL.

Catholic Institute will be favourites when they meet Leinster Division One outfit Corinthian at Rosbrien but their opposition will not be taken lightly having gone unbeaten in Leinster thus far this season. Indeed, they had already pinned down a promotion play-off spot in 2020 before the pandemic hit, denying them an opportunity to join the highest league.


 

TODAY

Irish Men’s Senior Cup Rd 2 – Annadale v Pembroke Wanderers, Lagan College, 2.30; Banbridge v Monkstown, Havelock Park, 3.0; Cork C of I v Bandon, Garryduff, 1.0; Glenanne v Cork Harlequins, St Andrews, 1.15; Lisnagarvey v Rathgar, Comber Road, 3.30; Railway Union v Cookstown, Park Avenue, 1.15; Three Rock Rovers v Corinthian, Grange Road, 1.0; YMCA v UCD, Wesley College, 4.0

Irish Hockey Trophy RD 1 – Ashton v Portadown, Ashton School, 3.0; Avoca v South Antrim, Newpark, 12.30; Ballynahinch v Catholic Institute, St Colmans HS, 1.0; Bangor v Kilkenny, Bangor Aurora, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v UCC, Deramore Park, 2.30; Dublin North v Bray, National Sports Complex, Abbotstown, 1.45; NICS v Queens University, Stormont, 2.30; North Down v Newry, Londonderry Park, 2.45.

Irish Women’s Senior Cup RD 2 – Catholic Institute v Corinthian, Rosbrien, 2.0; Cork Harlequins v Pembroke Wanderers, Farmers Cross, 1.30; Glenanne v Banbridge, St Andrews 3.0; Lisnagarvey v Muckross, Comber Road, 1.30; Pegasus v Ulster Elks, Newforge Country Club, 1.30; Queens University v UCC, Malone Playing Fields, 12.45; Railway Union v Loreto, Park Avenue, 3.15; UCD v Old Alexandra, Belfield, 1.0

Irish Hockey Trophy RD 1 – Bray v Raphoe, Loreto Bray, 1.0; Clontarf v Rathgar, Mount Temple, 1.0; Greenfields v Bandon, Dangan, 2.30; Kilkenny v Armagh, Kilkenny, 2.0; North Kildare v North Down, The Maws, 2.0; Portadown v Mossley, Edenvilla, 2.30; Three Rock Rovers v Ashton, Grange Road, 3.0; YMCA v Galway, Wesley College, 1.45.


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