After their eclipse in the Irish Senior Cup, how strong a resurgence can be expected from Ulster's leading clubs in tomorrow's first-leg ties in the Nissan-backed All-Ireland Championship quarter-finals?
The defending champions, Instonians, will certainly set out to yield little to Glenanne at Tallaght. Yet, Glenanne - on the tide of their 11-wins-out-of-12 finishing surge in Leinster - may well surprise Neil Cooke and his cohorts if Alan Browne and Graham Shaw continue to play with dynamism.
Instonians, however, can probably keep the margin tight enough to know their exact requirements in the return game in Belfast, especially if they register an away goal.
Equally, Lisnagarvey will be hoping to confine Cork C of I to a relatively modest home score, though the Garryduff brigade - if they can pace themselves - still have a championship and cup double as a reasonable objective. Tomorrow, it depends a great deal on whether Alastair Dunne, with his hamstring trouble, can join Nigel Buttimer in leading the charge against Alan Dowd and Robbie Taylor.
Annadale will probably bring Chris Jackson into action at some stage against Pembroke Wanderers at Lough Moss. Here, the Leinster champions will not be expecting much, because of a spate of injuries - the latest casualties are Max Lanos and Stephen Stewart. But the Dubliners will be aiming to clinch survival at Serpentine Avenue next week.
Another Injury victim is Colin Hade, who will be missed by Avoca for the tough clash with Harlequins at Rathdown. Harlequins, who have lost only to Pembroke this season and beat C of I (4-0) to take the Munster laurels, will be favourites to advance to the last-four weekend in May, especially with Ivan Bateman and Jason Black in top form.
TOMORROW: All-Ireland Club Championship - Quarter-finals, first leg: Glenanne v Instonians, St Mark's, 1.0 (R Davey, G Quail); Cork C of I v Lisnagarvey, Garryduff, 2.0 (R Ewart, R O'Connor); Avoca v Harlequins, Rathdown, 2.30 C Hutchinson, T Goode); Annadale v Pembroke Wanderers, Lough Moss, 2.30 (N Martin, I Thompson).
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior League - Play-off: YMCA v Dublin Univesrity, Serpentine Avenue, 3.0.
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