HOCKEY NEWS:GLENANNE PICKED up two points yesterday in Belfast after a draw with Annadale in their opening match of the Irish Hockey League. The Tallaght side went down a goal to a Chris Jackson penalty corner in the first quarter before coming back into the scrappy match.

In a match made difficult by heavy winds and a slippery pitch, Glenanne midfielder Stephen Butler intercepted before delivering to Mark Lamb for the Dublin side's equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Despite taking an early lead through Aidan Sweeney, Fingal felt the full brunt of mixing it with the big boys in their first weekend of national competition. The Dublin side travelled to Garryduff hoping to take something from their meeting with C of I but came away defeated 6-2.

That gives full points to the Cork side and nothing to Fingal in the first round of the Irish Hockey League.

Ireland's drag-flick expert John Jermyn collected the first hat-trick of the competition with two set-piece goals in the first half and another early in the second.

Andrew Herbert, David Hobbs and Roger Grey added the others, with Aidan Sweeney and Paddy Gahan hitting one each in the first half after what had been a promising start for the visitors.

A spread of goals for Three Rock Rovers saw them also collect their first winning points in their Dublin derby against Monkstown at Grange Road. Rovers, who will have strong hopes of winning the inaugural competition, took the lead through Tim Hill, Peter Blakeney adding another for a 2-0 lead.

Ian Allen and Alec Barrett replied for 2-2 but Rovers pulled away in the second half with strikes from Ireland's Phelie Maguire and Kyle Goode for a 4-2 win.