Pembroke primed for Pegasus challenge

Women's Hockey:There was a time when Pembroke Wanderers were almost an unstoppable force in the Irish Senior Cup, the club enjoying rich success in the competition, most notably when they completed a four-in-a-row. That, though, was back in 1950, and it's 1975 since Pembroke last got their name on the trophy.

That year they beat Pegasus 1-0 in the final and, as fate would have it, it's Pegasus they must beat at Belfield on Sunday if they are to win the competition for the 13th time, moving them within one of Muckross's record total.

Pegasus, however, can draw level with Pembroke as the competition's second most successful club if they carry the favourite's tag with comfort in to the ESB-sponsored final (live on RTÉ 2, 2.0) and see off their Leinster opponents.

"There's no doubt they're favourites," said Pembroke and Irish goalkeeper Mary Goode, "they've been there and done it all. They have a huge number of Irish caps between them, with players like Arlene Boyles and Claire McMahon, players who've played in so many of these finals."

Of the current Pembroke team only Elaine Bromell has ISC final experience, when she played for Cork Harlequins against Loreto in 2003, although Natalie Fulton will be the only player on the pitch on Sunday to have achieved every hockey player's ultimate dream, by making it to the Olympic Games in 2004 with South Africa.

"Apart from Natalie, then, it will be the biggest occasion in hockey for all of us," said Goode. "We know what we're up against, but we're fighting fit and looking forward to it."

Pembroke have beaten Ballymena, Victorians, Armagh, Lurgan and Ballymoney en route to the final, meaning victory over Pegasus would give them an Ulster "grand slam" in this season's competition. Pegasus, who last won the cup in 2004, beat Belfast Harlequins and Randalstown, before recording a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 semi-final win over holders Hermes.

Boyles, though, is wary of Pembroke, a side that has the best defensive record in the Leinster first division.

"Strange things can happen in cup finals, as we have found to our own cost in years gone by," she said, in reference to the club's shock defeat to Ballymoney in the 2001 final. Pembroke will hope to emulate Ballymoney's success, but the odds are firmly in the Ulster champions' favour.

FIXTURES: Saturday: Leinster League - Division One: Trinity v Three Rock, Santry, 12.0; UCD v Old Alexandra, Belfield, 12.45; Corinthian v Hermes, Whitechurch, 1.0; Clontarf v Loreto, Clontarf, 2.15. Sunday: Irish Senior Cup Final (at Belfield): Pegasus v Pembroke Wanderers, 2.15.