MEN'S HOCKEY: THE SECOND round of the Irish Hockey League action this weekend will see a raft of top games, with Monkstown and Fingal hosting Lisnagarvey and Three Rock Rovers, respectively.
The Fingal Pool B match in Grange Road will have a derby feel, with the increasingly impressive Rovers unbeaten since February, when they lost to Glenanne in the Leinster Senior Cup.
Rovers, though, have had their share of injuries and in their last two league outings won, but narrowly 2-1, against tomorrow's opponents and Corinthians.
Peter Blakeney remains in goal- scoring form for Rovers with 13 so far, making him Leinster's second highest marksman behind Pembroke striker Alan Sothern, and their own Spanish import, Ferran Pijoan Bori, included in their IHL squad for the first time.
Monkstown's meeting with Hillsborough's Lisnagarvey at Rathdown in south Dublin will have the Ulster side seeking revenge. The sides last clashed in the semi-finals of the 2007 Irish Senior Cup, when Monkstown secured their spot in the final for the first time since 1972, winning 3-2 with a last-minute winner.
Pembroke, who beat Cork Harlequins in round one, travel north for their Pool A fixture against Instonians, who drew last time out with Cookstown. Pembroke, as they are most weeks, will go in as favourites in what is a huge game for both sides.
The Ballsbridge side welcome German player Florian Richter into their squad although they will be missing defender Tim Lewis, injured during last week's international series against Scotland.
Instonians welcome former Ireland captain Paddy Brown back to the heart of their defence but still await a return from injury of Mark Gleghorne and Stephen Redpath.
Glenanne will travel to Farmers Cross to met Cork Harlequins, who now badly need points. The two sides have met regularly over the last decade in the Irish Senior Cup and the Club Championships, their most recent meeting finishing 3-3. Paul Lombard is unavailable for the home side, leaving John Hobbs to carry out the captain's duties for the Cork side.
FIXTURES: Irish League, Round Two: Pool A: Cookstown v Annadale, Coolnafranky, 6pm; Cork Harlequins v Glenanne, Harlequin Park, 3pm; Instonians v Pembroke W, Shawsbridge, 6pm. Pool B: Fingal v Three Rock R, Alsaa, 1.45pm; Banbridge v Cork C of I, Havelock Park, 5pm; Monkstown v Lisnagarvey, Rathdown, 4pm. Leinster Senior League: Railway Union v UCD, Park Avenue , 2.45pm
