Awaiting the launch of an All-Ireland superleague some year soon, another Leinster championship gets underway tomorrow. Pembroke Wanderers seem set to remain supreme, especially with their fresh attacking resources, allied to the strongest defence in the province. The Pembroke goalkeeper, Nigel Henderson, who played an outstanding role in last Sunday's Irish victory over Italy in Padova - including saving a penalty stroke -is going to take several weeks' rest, so his brother, under-21 international, Charlie, will be his deputy. Tomorrow, at Serpentine Avenue, the younger Henderson faces the challenge of preventing Australian striker Colin Stewart from scoring his 100th goal for Corinthians, who are captained this season by Ivan Ovington.
Stephen Butler, who at one stage of the European championship found himself marking the world's most-capped player, Jacques Brinkman of Holland, is also expected to take some time out from domestic hockey. His club, Glenanne, who are again likely to be Pembroke's strongest rivals, start their programme with a home match against Monkstown. Alan Browne is skipper of the Tallaght club this season. Galahad Goulet, another member of the Irish squad in Italy, may feel that, as Avoca's captain, he should line out against Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road. Liam Colvin leads newly-promoted Clontarf into action against Railway Union, for whom Shaun Hopkin from South Africa will be player-coach. Conor O'Brien is the skipper.
YMCA, led by Keith Lemon and including Eric Gierts from Belgium, start their programme against the other promoted side, Aer Lingus.
John Smyth, of Bangor, will become the last president of the Irish Hockey Union on Saturday, September 25th, prior to the merger of the IHU and the Irish Ladies HU, forming a new association to satisfy the world body (FIH). Tomorrow, the many members of the Moore dynasty of Tramore and Cork will gather for a match at Garryduff to mark the 80th birthday of Evelyn Moore, whose grandfather was the Rev Thomas Gibson, first president of the IHU in 1894.
