Big names must fall

WOMEN'S HOCKEY/Irish Senior Cup:Either Cork Harlequins or Ballymoney, the only clubs to loosen the Pegasus, Hermes and Loreto stranglehold on the ESB Irish Senior Cup in the last 13 years, will bid an early farewell to the competition this season after they were drawn against each other for tomorrow's third round.

It is at this stage of the cup that the top seeds enter the fray, and at least one other big name casualty is guaranteed after the pairing of Pembroke Wanderers and Loreto.

Ballymoney, who, by coach Lynsey McVicker's estimation, haven't had an away draw in the competition for seven years, have had a mixed start to their league season, dropping five points from their last two games, in contrast to Harlequins' perfect opening to their campaign.

Home advantage should further boost the Munster champions and 2000 cup winners' hopes of getting past the club that won the cup for the first and only time the following year.

As fate would have it, all three surviving Munster sides have been drawn against Ulster opposition, but Church of Ireland and Ashton must head north for their ties against Lisnagarvey and Randalstown. Ashton may be the rank outsiders of the remaining 16 teams, but their confidence should be up after their second-round victory away to Trinity when an extra-time golden goal put them through.

There are also three Leinster v Ulster clashes, the pick of them the meeting in Dublin of the Mick McKinnon-coached Railway Union and Armagh, the club he so successfully coached for seven years. An intriguing tie it is too, pairing the leaders of the Leinster first division with the club that has four representatives on the Irish senior panel: Stephaine Quinn, Rachel Mulligan and sisters Emma and Amy Stewart.

The quartet are available for Armagh this weekend, as are all international players for their clubs.

Golden goal extra-time and, if required, penalty strokes, will ensure decisive results in all of tomorrow ties.

IRISH SENIOR CUP

Tomorrow - Third round:Railway Union v Armagh, Park Avenue, 3.0; Randalstown v Ashton, Antrim Forum, 1.0; Cork Harlequins v Ballymoney, Harlequin Park, 2.0; Lisnagarvey v Church of Ireland, Hillsborough, 2.30; Victorians v Old Alexandra, Jordanstown, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Loreto, Serpentine Avenue, 2.30; Ards v Hermes, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.45; Belfast Harlequins V Pegasus, Deramore, 3.0.

LEINSTER LEAGUE

Division One - Tomorrow: Trinity v Three Rock, Santry, 11.30. Division Two - Tomorrow: Railway Union II v Bray, Clontarf, 11.15; Glenanne v Corinthian II, Tallaght, 1.0; Pembroke II v Clontarf, Ballsbridge, 4.0; Suttonians v Loreto II, Sutton, 4.15. Sunday: Hermes II v Old Alexandra II, Booterstown, 3.45.