Loreto look to end jinx

HOCKEY: Loreto and Cork Harlequins have at least one thing in common - they would probably both name the days they defied the odds to beat Hermes in a Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup final as the greatest in their clubs' history.

Three years ago Harlequins won their first Irish cup when they beat Hermes with a Ciara McGrath goal 30 seconds from time; last year Loreto beat their Leinster rivals on penalty strokes to win the cup for the first time in 42 years.

Something has to give on Sunday, though, when the two teams meet each other at Belfield in what will be the first club match ever shown live by RTÉ.

If the 2000 and 2002 games bring back happy memories for this year's finalists they are a source of some anguish for Harlequins midfielder Johanna Hyland. The 2000 final? "Soul destroying." And last year? "Gut-wrenching." Third time lucky? "I'd like to think so."

Hyland had the misfortune to be on the losing side on both occasions, having moved to Hermes from UCC in 1999.

"When I was at UCC we were always losing to Harlequins in finals so when I joined Hermes and we met them in the Irish final I thought, at last, I'll be on the winning team. But I wasn't."

Last year was more agonising for Hyland who was one of three Hermes players to have their strokes saved by Loreto goalkeeper Louisa Healy in the shoot-out after the 2-2 draw.

"I've a fairly dismal record in finals and that just about completed it - but that's all going to change on Sunday, I hope."

"It's hard to know how we compare with Loreto, all we have to go on are last year's games, but what do you make of them - we beat them once (5-2 in the club finals) and lost once (3-0 in the Irish Cup semi-finals). We're well aware of how good a team they are, but we're going in with high hopes. We beat Pembroke in the semis, Pembroke beat Loreto in the Leinster final last Monday - we'll take encouragement from that. We're really looking forward to it, and the television coverage adds to the excitement. You might even see a fake tan or two."

A fortnight ago Hyland missed out on Munster's first senior interpro triumph since 1995 with a foot injury but is hopeful of being fit for Sunday.

Loreto captain Nikki Lyons, though, was a member of that Munster squad, so is more than familiar with the bulk of the team she will face on Sunday.

"Harlequins had eight players on that Munster team so you cannot underestimate them at all. They mightn't have strong competition week in, week out in their own league but they've done well every time they've played in the club finals or Irish Cup - and they have some great players."

"I think the two teams are very similar, solid defences, absolute battlers in midfield and some of the best forwards in the country - Nikki Symmons (Loreto) and Karen Bateman (Harlequins) are probably the two fastest players in Irish hockey and nobody hits the ball harder.

"It was brilliant going into last year's final as underdogs but we'd definitely be favourites this time, people will be expecting us to win because we're the holders."

Little wonder Loreto would want to disown the favourite's tag, Irish Senior Cup finals have proved to be a graveyard for teams burdened with that load in recent years. In 1999 Pegasus were favourites and lost to Hermes. In 2000 Hermes were favourites and lost to Harlequins. In 2001 Pegasus were favourites and lost to Ballymoney. In 2002 Hermes were favourites and lost to Loreto.

If Loreto prevail, they will put an end to that jinx, and will become the first Leinster team to retain the Irish Cup since Muckross in 1969. If Harlequins win their second Irish Cup in four years they will complete what has already been a wonderful season for Munster. And Johanna Hyland will firmly believe in the maxim: if at first you don't succeed, try again - and again.

Lurgan College look set to complete an Ulster three-in-a-row at the All-Ireland Schools' finals in Limerick after winning their opening two games yesterday. Victory over Loreto Wexford this morning should seal the title for Lurgan who could only lose out if they suffered a heavy defeat by St Andrew's in their final game.

CORK HARLEQUINS (from): O McCarthy, J Hyland, C O'Callaghan, S Canning, E Dillon, K Bateman (capt), R Kohler, J Barry, E Brommel, M Ahern, J Chapple, F Higgins, H Costello, N Kearney, G Kehelly, M Boland. Coach: Ivan Bateman. Manager: Margaret Sweeney.

LORETO (from): L Healy, R Brophy, S Rand, C Grealy, S Scott, N Symmons, A O'Brien, C McKean, S Cooney, S O'Meara, N Lyons (capt), O Ryan, C O'Kelly, N Keegan, W Byrne, M Harkin. Coach: Tom O'Donoghue. Manager: Suzanne Graham.

PATHS TO THE FINAL - Third round: Cork Harlequins 1, Ards 0; Loreto 10, UCC 1. Quarter-finals: Knock 0, Cork Harlequins 4; UCD 1, Loreto 3. Semi-finals: Loreto 2, Old Alexandra 1; Pembroke Wanderers 1, Cork Harlequins 2.

IRISH SENIOR CUP FINAL (at Belfield) - Sunday: Cork Harlequins v Loreto, 4.20.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Senior A: Tomorrow: Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, 12.30; Glenanne v Trinity, 4.0. Sunday - Corinthian v Old Alexandra, Whitechurch, 1.0 . Senior B - Tomorrow: Genesis II v Clontarf, Rathdown, 1.30; Corinthian v Three Rock, Whitechurch, 12.30.

MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Tomorrow: Univ of Limerick v Belvedere, 3.30; Bandon v Waterford, 3.0.