National Cup derby between Fr Mathew's and UCC Glanmire is tie of the round

A mouth-watering Cork derby in the opening round in the Domino’s Women’s National Cup as Fr Mathew’s welcome UCC Glanmire to the Fr Mathew’s Arena.

Both sides lost their Super League games last weekend with Fr Mathew’s going down away to Cavan Eagles and Glanmire losing out at home to Waterford Wildcats.

Glanmire will be wondering how they didn’t close out their game against Wildcats that they dominated for long periods.

Coach Mark Scannell will have been furious with his players, but his vast experience saw him take it on the chin and move on for this crucial clash There is little doubt Glanmire’s professionals Jewel Watkins and Viane Cumber are quality players but must go the extra mile for a team that is struggling to get numbers from their Irish players.

On the other side of the coin, Mathew’s Americans Laila Blair and Lexie Givens are also good players and the battle for supremacy in this game could be fascinating. The Model Farm Road are also suffering big time in getting numbers from their Irish players as with the exception of veteran Grainne Dwyer the remainder of the panel are struggling.

If the Mathew’s coach Jamie Barry could get his rookies scoring his team have a chance of causing an upset.

Glanmire are a club steeped in tradition. In Claire O’Sullivan and Aine McKenna they have two stalwarts capable of keeping them in contention for a home quarter-final berth against Portlaoise Panthers.

Gurranabraher Credit Union face a tough task when they travel to play St Paul’s at the Killarney Sports Complex.

The one plus for Brunell despite losing at home to Liffey Celtics last weekend is that their Kerry opponents also lost away to Trinity Meteors.

QUALITY

Brunell will feel with the quality of their Irish players that they should be able to care of business in this clash.

The problem for coach Liam Culloty is that he is struggling to get the best from his squad, and his team will need reminding in this championship there are no back or trap doors available to them as winners take all.

In Edel Thornton, you have a player capable of lifting Brunell but her form in this campaign has not been at the level she would like.

Americans Brailyn Joseph and Maddie Cluse are wholehearted players and if Brunell’s Irish players show their true qualities, they should have too much for their Kerry opponents.

St Paul’s American pairing of Tara Cousins and Maisie Burnham were disappointing at Meteors and will be expected to do better. Lorraine Scanlon is a battler and Brunell will need to keep her off the boards as she could pose them problems.

A tough game to call but surely if Brunell turn up and produce their A game they should have too much in the locker for their Kerry opponents.