Places in semi finals at stake

IT IS hoped that snow does not disrupt the hockey programme again this weekend, particularly with places in the Nissan sponsored Irish Senior Cup semi finals at stake, as Raphoe cross the Sperrins to tackle Banbridge while Lisnagarvey make the trek to Cork to face Belvedere at Harlequin Heights.

The Dublin derby involving Railway Union and Monkstown, already rehearsed, is bound to go ahead in Sandymount as an entree to the fourth quarter final between Pembroke Wanderers and Holywood at Serpentine Avenue.

The Pembroke match holds most promise as an open spectacle as Kenny Morris may well crack home a goal for Holywood before he becomes a marked man. Wanderers will surely reply through Stephen Stewart and then it will be anybody's game.

Stephen Magee could also be a threat for the visitors and Michael Irvine provides driving force but Pembroke have greater resources in midfield and if Devin Donnelly and Andy Cooke can exert full pressure, the Holywood defence may yield sufficient openings. This was the case in succumbing to Cliftonville in an Ulster league fixture last Saturday, though such a figure as John McKee will call for more vigilance now.

Much may also depend on how Pembroke's injury list has been alleviated. Francis de Rosa, Peter Young, Colin Kelly and Turlough O Siochain were all back in training earlier this week but surviving a full blooded cup tie will be a test of the club's resilience against a side that lost by the minimum margin to Avoca at last season's semi final stage.

Lisnagarvey, having barely failed to foil Avoca in the final, have become warm favourites to recapture the trophy and for Jimmy Kirkwood to collect his 10th medal. The performance tomorrow will need to be strong, though, to beat Belvedere, whose elimination of Cork C of I showed that they are a team to be respected in knock out competition. Ger Casey, David Murray and John Ahern will be foremost in the resistance, yet the combined skills of Robbie Taylor, Daniel Clarke, Julian Stevenson and Kirkwood will be expected to yield victory for the visitors.

Raphoe are a more established side now than when they lost 1-0 in Banbridge in the same stage of the cup three years ago. Indeed, their teamwork and workrate will be hard to break down and if Jonathan Lecky poaches an early goal, Banbridge will need to find top gear. They played with much discipline against Three Rock Rovers in Dublin and a repeat display might suffice if sufficient opportunities fall to David McAnulty on the news pitch at Havelock Park.

At Park Avenue, it seems that Stewart O'Higgins will lead Railway Union into the last four, for Monkstown remain a little lightweight for such a prestigious position. By the year 2002, however, Ali Murdoch's boys may well be mature enough to go all the way.

. Following Newpark's capture of the Irish Schools title for the first time, a celebration match against an old boys selection (with Peter Barrett as the most respected figure) is being held at Serpentine Avenue on Sunday. This is part of a fund raising programme for Newpark's participation in the European youth tournament in The Hague at Easter.