MEN'S HOCKEY:WHILE PEMBROKE will be back to full strength, Cork Harlequins will make their visit east with several injury concerns in round two of this weekend's Irish Hockey League (IHL).
Former international Jason Black fractured his collar bone in the closing stages of his side’s Irish Senior Cup match last weekend against YMCA and won’t be available for their pool A match on Saturday. Black joins Chris Daunt, Seán Nicholson and Colin Ross on ’Quins’ growing injury list.
The league will dominate the weekend outdoors, while round two of the men’s indoor event resumes in Tallaght on Sunday, where Glenanne II, Monkstown, Railway and Suttonians are playing for a top-two position in the group and a place in the weekend finals on February 6th-7th.
Monkstown will also face Corinthian in an all-Leinster IHL affair in Pool A.
This will be the third time so far this season the teams have met with Monkstown hoping to register one win following two defeats. The last match was decided 4-3 in the last minute of the game.
Banbridge also host Instonians in Havelock Park in an evening start with the visitors hoping to maintain their top place in the group.
In Pool B Three Rock Rovers play Glenanne in the traditional testy meeting between the two teams. If only there were more of these scraps.
This one starts at 4pm at Grange Road, with both teams looking for a first win in the competition.
Glenanne took the points when the sides met in the Leinster Senior League, a 2-0 scoreline deciding it on that occasion.
Cork C of I also face Annadale in Garryduff, with Cookstown hosting Lisnagarvey at Coolafranky for what will be the first IHL game played on the water-based turf.
C of I and Annadale are both trying to kick start their campaigns after a disappointing opening day’s results, C of I earning a last-gasp draw with Rovers and Annadale losing to Lisnagarvey.
Internationals Karl Burns and Mark Ruddle will not be available for the Cork team, with work commitments and injury keeping both players out of the game.
Both Cookstown and ’Garvey have a number of potential match winners among their ranks. Timmy Smyth, Andrew Barbour and David Ames have been the main threats for Cookstown this season, while ’Garvey travel with Mark Raphael along with the in form Timmy Cockram.
FIXTURES
Saturday– Irish Hockey League: Pool A – Pembroke v Cork Harlequins, Serpentine Avenue 3pm; Monkstown v Corinthian, Rathdown 4.30; Banbridge v Instonians, Havelock Park 7pm. Pool B – cork C of I v Annadale, 2.30 Garryduff; Cookstown v Lisnagarvey, Coolnafranky 2.30; TRR v Glenanne, Grange Road 4pm.
Sunday– National Indoor Trophy (Tallaght)Group Three round-robin – Glennane II, Railway Union, Suttonians, Monkstown.
