Monkstown and Pembroke Wanderers, who are also due to meet in a Mills Cup semi-final, promise to provide the most lively game in the Leinster Senior League at Rathdown tomorrow.
Two of the strikers who contributed handsomely to Leinster's retention of the under-21 title at Blaris last weekend, Justin Sherriff and Simon Kershaw, now renew rivalry on the club front. Monkstown's spearhead, Sherriff, though, can hardly expect to repeat the hat-trick which forced Pembroke to stretch themselves fully to salvage a 3-3 draw at Serpentine Avenue at the end of October.
This time, Irish trialist Sherriff, will be marked by the tenacious Colin Kelly and if the Wanderers midfield gets moving it is likely that they can gain control with Kershaw or Max Lanos putting away a goal or two. Full points would virtually see Pembroke home and dry again as champions and boost their confidence for next Saturday's visit of Lisnagarvey in the Irish Senior Cup.
Elsewhere tomorrow, Glenanne and Railway Union clash in a key contest for all-Ireland play-off places. Railway won 2-1 at Park Avenue but will need the utmost commitment to prevail in an absorbing test at St Mark's, especially if Glenane's young Irish trialist, Stephen Butler, produces a tour de force. Corinthians, Avoca and Three Rock Rovers should also retain their hopes in the scramble to advance from Leinster circles by beating Kilkenny, YMCA and Aer Lingus, respectively.
We owe an apology to Waterford HC in incorrectly publishing a 170 defeat by Harlequins in a Munster Premier League game in Cork a fortnight ago. The official result was a 9-0 reverse for the understrength visiting team.
Waterford may be going through a lean period but, with the benefit of the new astroturf pitch at Newtown School and a recruitment drive in the south-east, they seem sure to enjoy better times. An ironic problem in Munster hockey is the all-powerful grip being exerted by Cork C of I and Harlequins.
One of those clubs' second XI will be eliminated in the Irish Junior Cup quarter-finals tomorrow as they clash at Farmer's Cross. In Dublin, too, there is local derby involving Monkstown II and Railway Union II at Rathdown.
