Belfast set for battle royal

Tempting as it might be there's no need to indulge in hype ahead of tomorrow's Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup semi-final in Belfast: Pegasus v Hermes says it all. Down the road, meanwhile, Ballymoney will attempt to reach the final in only their second season in the competition when they take on Pembroke Wanderers.

Whichever side emerges triumphant from the Belfast game will go into March's final as overwhelming favourites, although Ballymoney and Pembroke are entitled to point to Harlequins' success last year when they beat Hermes in the decider - after Hermes had beaten Pegasus in the last four.

While no one is keener to win tomorrow than Graham Quincey, the recently appointed Pegasus coach is also anxious that the game be played in good spirit.

Quincey feels that Hermes have the edge going in to the game, having won the teams' most recent encounter and having the benefit, he believes, of playing in a more competitive league. He also admits to concerns over the effect the possible absence of Jeanette Turner (doubtful through illness) would have on his team: "Her loss would be more than the loss of her talent, she's a huge influence and our leader on the field, like Jackie McWilliams at Randals town when I was there."

Hermes coach Peter Darley concedes that he won't have too many problems geeing up his players for the game. "Pegasus? An Irish Senior Cup semi-final? Belfast? Who needs more motivation than that? The quality of hockey may not be the deciding factor tomorrow, commitment and mental strength are likely to be more important."

They're qualities Pembroke coach Rudi Wortmann believes his team must display too if they are to come away from Ballymoney having secured their first final berth since 1988 (when they lost in a replay to Old Alexandra). "We have a good chance of reaching the final now but we're still a little unpredictable. We're good travellers, though, and can raise our game on the day considerably, as the records show."

Should Ballymoney, coached by Irish international Lynsey McVicker, beat their Dublin opponents it would cap a remarkable rise to the top for a club formed just 17 years ago.