MEN'S HOCKEY IRISH SENIOR CUP: MONKSTOWN HAVE to cast their minds back to the side-burned days of the 1970s for the last time they played in an Irish Senior Cup final.
Tommy Allen, Brian George, the Watkinses, John Baker and Crawford Tipping et al were the lords of the grass in Royal Terrace. Heady days. Wonderful hairdos. The Town lost the 1970 cup final by a goal to Lisnagarvey after extra time and two years later met one of the great Queen's University sides spearheaded by Terry Gregg and lost 3-0.
The Dublin side have to go back to first World War days to find the last time they carried off the Regiment Trophy, so tomorrow's trip to Hillsborough for this year's Irish Cup semi-final against Lisnagarvey is freighted with history.
Monkstown will arrive as underdogs. But Garvey will look at their opponents' performance against Three Rock Rovers in the quarter-final and see this side can sting.
Davy Fitzgerald was inspired in goal, saved two penalty flicks and 17 short corners. Depending on the final results, Monkstown have a reasonable chance of a top-four place in the Leinster League, which would qualify them for the All-Ireland league next season.
Although perfectly capable of doing it, Monkstown are considered rank outsiders to pull off another upset, while Pembroke would be expected to see off the visit of Instonians to Serpentine Avenue in the other semi-final.
Pembroke last won the cup in 2000 and can arguably say they are now a stronger unit. A strong performance against the 2002 and 2004 winners, anchored by Paddy Brown in defence and up front by Mark Gleghorne, would ensure a reasonable crack at the trophy.
WEEKEND FIXTURES:Tomorrow: Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: Pembroke Wanderers v Instonians, Serpentine Ave, 3.0; Lisnagarvey v Monkstown, Hillsborough 2.45 Leinster Senior League: Division One: Bray v Glenanne, Bray 1.30; Munster Senior League: Belvedere A v C of I A, Ballincollig 12.0; Catholic Institute A v Bandon A, TBC Rosbrien. Sunday: Leinster Senior League: Division one - Fingal v Pembroke, ALSAA 2.0; Munster Senior League: Bandon A v Catholic Institute A, Bandon 1.30.
