Harlequins spirits high

Tiring and all as it might be to face two of your most important games of the season in the space of four days Harlequins, at least, go in to tomorrow's Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup semi-final replay against Ballymoney in high spirits. On Wednesday night they retained their Munster senior league title, beating Church of Ireland in a play-off at Farmers' Cross.

It was a hard earned victory too, with Church of Ireland, who won the second half of the Munster league season, restricting the defending champions to just one goal, a 29th minute reverse-stick shot from Irish forward Karen O'Brien.

First, though, the Cork team will fix their minds on their replay against Ballymoney, with both clubs seeking their first ever appearance in an Irish Senior Cup final. There was little to choose between the teams in the drawn game but Harlequins should feel more comfortable on the faster surface at Farmers' Cross after finding Ballymoney's brand new pitch very slow.

"Quietly but not hugely confident," is how O'Brien describes herself ahead of the game, with Rachel Kohler predicting another close affair, "with probably only a goal in it". After the hospitality afforded Harlequins by Ballymoney three weeks ago O'Brien admits she wouldn't begrudge the Ulster team a place in the final, not that she plans accommodating their passage. "They're a lovely team to play and their hospitality before and after the game was brilliant. If we had to lose, we wouldn't mind losing to them, because they're such a nice bunch of girls - but we'll do everything in our power to beat them." Meanwhile at Serpentine Avenue Pegasus II will defend their title at the Junior League Finals where they will have two of the Irish under-18 team that won bronze at the European Youth Trophy in Cardiff on Monday to call upon - Ruth Jameison and Susie Martin. Waterford, Enniscorthy, Athlone and Our Lady's Terenure complete the line-up of teams.