Friday, February 20, 2009

Men's Irish Senior Cup preview

Six more ISC quarter-finalists and one second round place will be confirmed on Saturday afternoon as this season's stop/start competition will hope to tidy up the draw made last Monday.

A potentially tasty local derby could occur should Three Rock and Glenanne win their respective ties against Northern opposition. The Glens will have to do it without Alan Lewis (pictured) who was informed this week he is cup-tied despite not playing for Monkstown in the cup before the transfer went through.

In any case, it may prove academic as he has a back injury though he yet may be fit by February 28, the date of the next round. The Glens travel to North Down - Ulster's Podium Senior One leaders - who are coming off the back of a rousing 13-1 win over Armagh.

Rovers, meanwhile, head to the seaside town of Bangor. The Ulster side has an impressive home record but a crushing 3-1 defeat to lowly Mossley last weekend has majorly dented their IHL hopes. They will hope Simon Hunter and Gareth Morton can break down Alan Bothwell's defence while Mikey Harte pulls the strings in midfield.

His brother, Johnny, meanwhile will be hoping to mastermind a Fingal win over Cookstown, the Ulster champions in waiting as they need a single point for their domestic title. Harte does so without the services of Andy Marshall while Mick McGuinness' shoulder injury is a concern.

Brian Gray missed out last week against Kilkenny too due to work reasons but could be back in time. Ian Hutchinson returns for Cookstown after missing last week's game with Raphoe.

Corinthian and Railway finally get their ISC involvement underway at Whitechurch Park. The reds have the form thanks to a 6-0 win last month while Mark English still has an internal club ban for his recent red card to see out.

Up north, there are three local derbies, the most eye-catching of which pits Lisnagarvey against Annadale. NICS will hope for a Premier scalp at the Glade against Mossley while in the remaining round one fixture, Cork Harlequins will be looking out for the result of Raphoe against Banbridge in Donegal.

Men’s Irish Senior Cup
Saturday
Round 1: Raphoe v Banbridge, 2.30pm, Royal & Prior
Round 2: Mossley v NICS, 2.30pm, The Glade; Corinthian v Railway Union, 1pm, Whitechurch; Lisnagarvey v Annadale, 2.30, Hillsborough; Bangor v Three Rock Rovers, 2.30pm, Bangor; North Down v Glenanne, 2.30pm, Comber Road; Fingal v Cookstown, 1pm, ALSAA

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

possible upset with Railway maybe beating Corinthians???

Anonymous said...

Are Glens struggling for forwards? I can only think of Gary Shaw and then young Kane and O'Donoghue at the moment?

Anonymous said...

I don't see Railway beating Corinthians, especially if they're missing Keving O'Brien as was rumoured recently.

Glenanne will always score goals from corners even if they're missing goal scoring forwards.

Anonymous said...

i remember that before the game where corinthians hammered railway in the league there were people on here talking up railway. it's not going to happen. corinthians by 3 or more.

a neutral

Anonymous said...

yeah railway have vastley improved over the last two years and its good to see them growing as a club and bringing young talent through but corinthians are too good for them. Corinthians win by three

Anonymous said...

"Are Glens struggling for forwards? I can only think of Gary Shaw and then young Kane and O'Donoghue at the moment?"

Plenty more that can play up top.
Enda tucker, David Keogh.
Parsons at a pinch

Anonymous said...

Railway 2-1. Proper backs to the wall stuff though

Anonymous said...

that other Shaw who's a bit good whats his name, oh yeah Graham, pops up up front every now and again

Anonymous said...

the Kevin O'Brien "rumour" is just two stories below this one!

Anonymous said...

corinthian are going to demolish railway!

Anonymous said...

Im guessing corinthians will once again defeat railway by at least 6...

1st div player

Anonymous said...

Fingal could cause an upset. Marshall at the back will be a big loss, his physical presence could have up set the Cookstown forwards.

Good to see O'Gorman back...is D Bane back full time???