MEN'S HOCKEY:WHAT A difference one round makes. At least half a dozen teams moved into this weekend's second round of the Irish Senior Cup with resounding victories and plenty of goals from last month. However picking winners this time out will prove much trickier as several of those in-form sides face difficult assignments in the second round.
UCD hit five against Bandon and now face one of the favourites and 2010 winners Glenanne in Belfield, while Railway Union, who scored 11 goals against South Antrim face an entirely different prospect against Three Rock Rovers.
Lisnagarvey, who netted four times in the first round against UCC, must make the no-joke trip from Hillsborough to face a talented C of I team, while Pembroke’s seven goals and Monkstown’s four in their openers can be consigned to history as they face each other in perhaps the pick of the second round.
There are big match-ups all over the place, with reigning champions Cookstown and Banbridge bound to send skin and hair flying at Coolnafranky. Most other teams liked seeing that pair come out of the hat together
The meeting of Cork Harlequins (who staged a brilliant comeback in the Irish Hockey League against Instonians) and Annadale in Farmers Cross will also see a strong side fall out of the draw.
But the outcome of the Dublin derby in Rathdown School could seriously shape the respective seasons of two clubs. Pembroke top the Leinster league table with Monkstown in second place and Glenanne third with just one point separating the three clubs.
Monkstown’s run in this competition has been a lesson in frustration.
Three finals in four years and no trophy brings its own pressures.
Certainly a win in Rathdown would again suggest last year’s finalists can keep going to the latter stages of the competition.
But both teams bowed out of the recent Irish Hockey League, Monkstown going down 2-1 to Banbridge and Pembroke losing 4-2 to Annadale.
Pembroke, particularly, need this cup win to keep their season alive at national level as their IHL hopes are at best precarious as they reside in fifth place in the pool and with just two rounds remaining.
SATURDAY – Irish Senior Cup Round Two– UCD v Glenanne, Belfield 1.0; Cork Church of Ireland v Lisnagarvey, Garryduff 1.30; Cookstown v Banbridge, Coolnafranky 2.30; Cork Harlequins v Annadale, Farmers Cross 1.30; Monkstown v Pembroke, Rathdown 2.30; Railway Union v Three Rock Rovers, Park Avenue 1.0; Instonians v Mossley, Shaws Bridge 1.0; Belfast Harlequins v NICS, Deramore 1.0. Leinster Senior League – Division Two– Portrane v Suttonians, Holy Faith, Glasnevin, 2.30; Avoca v Mullingar, Newpark School, 2.0; Weston v Dublin University, Griffeen Park, 3.0.
