MEN'S HOCKEY: WHILE IRISH hockey fans have to wait a couple of weeks to meet the new men's national coach, Paul Revington, Corinthian coach John McInroy believes his appointment is a massive boost.
McInroy has first-hand experience of Revington's work. The pair met when Revington was coaching at the University of Cape Town and McInroy gained all his South African caps under Revington between 2003 and 2006 and believes he is the man needed to take Irish hockey up a level.
"When I saw the appointment, I thought 'wow, these are exciting times for Irish hockey'. He is absolutely world class and I couldn't think of a better guy.
"With his attention to detail, his knowledge, his leadership qualities, he is a very learned man when it comes to hockey and his life is about coaching."
Revington oversaw an impressive progression from 14th to 10th in the world rankings up until 2006; however, there was no love lost between himself and his employers at the end of his tenure.
Revington said at the time: "Every national coach in South African sport, no matter how technically or tactically proficient they are, requires the support and leadership of their governing body.
"After doing well to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, I obviously frustrated various SA hockey officials and progressively lost support from key members of the SAHA executive."
His protégé, though, feels such issues should not hold him back.
"There's lot of politics in South African hockey. As a player, you hear bits and pieces but you can only know so much. I think he'll be looking forward to working from a clean piece of paper and having a full rein to put everything in place."
Revington will take on the role fully in January but visits Ireland for nine days at the end of the month for the three-game series with Scotland.
On the domestic front, meanwhile, Fingal head into Saturday's league games in Leinster top of Division One for the first time.
This season, the clubs has produced some amazing comebacks, overturning a 3-1 half-time deficit against Corinthian to win 5-3, securing a late tie with Pembroke and a final whistle David Bane goal sealed the points against UCD.
Co-coach John McInerney says his side "got out of jail" against the students but have shown great mental fortitude: "We have a habit of coming from behind. I'd really prefer to be way out ahead but we have that belief that, in the last 15 minutes, we can pull something out."
Fingal are without Ben Chillingworth with a knee injury, while David Bane carries a slight groin strain but should be available for the visit of YMCA.
YM look a team revived after a four-week break. They won their first game of the season on Tuesday, beating UCD 3-1 with David Robinson and Andy Walker back from injury, while Patrick Good and Graham O'Neill made first starts since joining the club.
SATURDAY: Leinster Senior League: Division One: Three Rock Rovers v Corinthians, Grange Road, 3.0; Kilkenny v Monkstown, Kilkenny College, 1.0; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers, Park Avenue noon; Glenanne v UCD, Glenanne Park, 1.0; Fingal v YMCA, ALSAA, 12.45. Division Two: Bray v Naas, Loreto Bray, 2.45; Clontarf v Dublin University, Mount Temple; Skerries v Suttonians, Skerries, 1.0; Weston v Navan, Esker, 2.30.
