Ide data interface connector problem

Question

Hi,
You kindly answered my question a few days ago about how to join both the HDD & CD rom to mobo with one ide cable by suggesting I get a threeway ide data interface cable which I have now bought however all the connectors on the new cable and the HDD,CD rom all have female type connectors so will not join to one another.
The ironic thing is that I already have the type of cable I have just bought already on my PC but thought the new one would have different connectors.
Any ideas on what I can do?
Thanks very much
Regards
Ryk