WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Leinster teams are in the majority in tomorrow's Irish Senior Cup second round ties but with four of them involved in head-to-head clashes a much reduced number will be going into the draw with the eight exempted premier sides for the third round on January 17th.

Pembroke Wanderers are at home to Division Two Ulster side Knock, Corinthians play host to Victorians, and Railway Union have an away trip to Cork to play C of I at Garryduff.

The remaining match-ups feature all-Ulster ties between Ballymena and Randalstown and Portadown and Ballymoney, while Galway will be hoping home advantage will prove beneficial to their chances for the visit of Coleraine at Dangan.

However, the pick of the matches should be the meeting of Corinthians and Victorians at Whitechurch Park. Events point to what could be the keenest contest of the round as Corinthians, who are having their best season in Leinster's top division, will be without two key players.

Free-scoring Australian midfielder Anna Ancher has gone home for Christmas, while Nicky Jolley, their experienced defensive sweeper who missed last week's game with Old Alexandra due to a calf injury, is still sidelined.

"We will certainly be missing the presence of these two players and for the following weekend when we play leaders Loreto in the league," says Fred McDarby, the former Loreto coach now in his second season with Corinthians.

"Sarah Walker, who has filled in, has done a great job but it means re-jigging the back four and probably bringing on Pascale Calibet from the seconds."

Victorians, who are coached by South African Nikki de Loit, have been having a lean period in the Ulster league but while well capable of scoring goals they have shown a propensity this season for losing by one-goal margins, something Corinthians would settle for.

The four bottom teams in the Leinster league will be hoping for some early Christmas cheer by way of positive cup results but the signs are not good for the bottom two Three Rock and Trinity.

Trinity's opponents UCD have already beaten them twice in the league and on their way to winning the Intervarsities event, while Three Rock, pointless and with 41 league goals conceded, take on fellow strugglers Genesis at Belfield.

The postponed Leinster senior cup tie between Clontarf and Pembroke Wanderers has been re-fixed for Sunday at the DCU venue in Glasnevin at 12.30.