MEN'S HOCKEY:WITH GLENANNE playing last night against Three Rock Rovers and facing into two more games over the weekend, this could be a pivotal few days for the Tallaght club in their quest for league honours. They are still within touching distance of the Irish Senior Cup and the next few weeks will be telling.
On Saturday Fingal make the journey to Glenanne Park for a match Glenanne will be confident of winning. But they will be looking for a good performance as well as the right result as they face second-placed Pembroke Wanders on Sunday in a crunch meeting for the two clubs.
Corinthians still lead the table on 38 points and, depending on how the weekend’s mix of matches go, it could all become very tight at the top in the final run-in.
Pembroke are the only side to have beaten Glenanne in the league this season and the St Mark’s venue for Sunday’s game might just give Glenanne the edge. They must also factor in that they are playing a match on Thursday night, Saturday and Sunday and it would be a shame if the league positions were decided because Glenanne ran out of gas in a four- day tournament-styled weekend.
On Saturday the most entertaining match may well be the meeting of neighbours Three Rock Rovers and Corinthians. Rovers, as ever carrying the Dutch influence, are really targeting a top-four finish and so Saturday’s meeting takes on greater significance as Monkstown stand between them and that goal.
Rovers too are looking for a good run as they still hold out hopes in the Irish Senior Cup, where they meet Glenanne in the semi-finals, while Monkstown, who face Annadale in the other cup semi-final, play Pembroke.
All in all, it’s a busy weekend with Clontarf, Monkstown, Pembroke and Glenanne all playing two matches.
SATURDAY:Leinster Senior League, Division One – Corinthians v TRR, Whitechurch, 2.15; Glenanne v Fingal, Glenanne Park 12.00 Monkstown v Pembroke, Rathdown 12.00; YMCA v Clontarf, Alexandra College 1.30. Munster Senior League – UCC A v Harlequins A, Mount Mercy 11.30.
SUNDAY:Leinster Senior League, Division One – Glenanne v Pembroke, Glenanne Park, 1.00; Clontarf v Monkstown, Mount Temple 2.30. Munster Senior League – Bandon A v Harlequins A, Bandon Grammar 1.30.