MEN'S HOCKEY: One of the few types of weather which can force a match on astroturf to be postponed struck on Saturday as heavy frost ensured Avoca's game against Aer Lingus, Corinthian's match with YMCA and Glenanne's game against UCD did not go ahead at ALSAA, Belfield and Whitechurch respectively, leaving only two matches in the division one program.
Still, both were significant as Pembroke took another step backwards in their quest for the league title and Three Rock Rovers continued their surging run of form against Monkstown at St Andrew's.
Rovers' 1-0 win at Booterstown ensures they stay firmly on top of the table, while Railway Union's strike from Teddy Lynch eight minutes from the end of their Park Avenue game puts the league title even further out of Pembroke's hands. Last year's runners-up can only hope Rovers start losing matches.
The Grange Road side looked impressively organised against Monkstown but came away with less to show than they might have expected given their opportunities in front of goal. Had they been taken the score could have been 5-2.
As it was, Christian Judd tucked away Rovers' goal just a minute after he had missed the best opportunity of the match after a long ball from midfield found him unmarked at the crown of the circle.
With endless time Judd and goalkeeper Gordon Clark waited for each other to call the next move, with Judd finally trying the shot but by then the moment was lost.
Then, safely from three feet out, he quickly nabbed the winner after some scrambling down the right of the circle.
It was what Rovers deserved, and while they created a few more chances, which Clark skilfully dealt with, so too did Monkstown create. Ian Allen had a whipped reverse stick shot well saved by Wendell Armstrong, but overall the result fell the right way.
In the Munster Senior Cup, Harlequins once again demonstrated their dominance with 11 goals against Galway. Nine of the goals went to one family, Richard Gash netting six and Eddie grabbing three.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE - Division One: Three Rock Rovers 1 (C Judd) Monkstown 0; Railway Union 1 (T Lynch) Pembroke 0; Aer Lingus v Avoca; Corinthians v YMCA; UCD v Glenanne off. Division Two: Clontarf 0 Naas 0; St James Gate 2 (M Fanning, P Kennedy) Skerries 2 (T Noonan, A Earley); Portrane 2 (C Neville pen, M McCann) Weston 1 (P Gahon); Suttonians v St Brendan's/Phoenix Park off.
MUNSTER SENIOR CUP: Galway 0 Harlequins 11 (R Gash 6, E Gash 3, P McLoughlin 2); Limerick 2 (D Kavanagh, K Flemming) Catholic Institute 1 (M Holmes).
