HOCKEY ALL-IRELAND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS:AN INTRIGUING weekend is in prospect at UCD this weekend in the All-Ireland club championships as the domestic hockey season reaches its climax.
In the men's section Leinster's fiercest of rivals, Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne, have mopped up all of the national titles in the past two years but one of them will have to sit out Sunday's final as they meet in the semi-final.
The second semi-final, though, could provide more subtle intrigue as Three Rock Rovers attempt to revisit their halcyon days as they face Lisnagarvey. They make their first championships last four visit since the tournament was inaugurated.
Coach Turloch O'Siochain admits his side are facing into the finals stage with "trepidation" but that anything his side can achieve is a bonus. They qualified from the group stages by the skin of their teeth, letting leads slip in all three of their group matches, losing 3-2 to Glenanne from a 2-0 advantage.
But O'Siochain feels the competition can only be of benefit to his emerging side. "Basically, it's a win-win situation. We're peaking at the right time and, for a young squad, everyone is learning fast, including me, about what it takes to perform at the highest level."
Three Rock have one addition to the squad with Australian Pierre Quesnel delaying his holiday plans to take in the club championships, filling in for Ali Haughton who broke his arm on the eve of the pool stages.
In the women's championships three of the usual suspects will be hoping for top honours at UCD. Railway Union, however, are entering uncharted territory as they contest their first semi-final, taking on the might of Loreto.
Coach Mick McKinnon conceded that reaching last week's round-robin stages was fulfilment of the club's goal for the season and, as such, their progression is an extra bonus.
It has been done without ever having a full squad to pick from. Early-season stars Emma Smyth and Kate Dillon missed the second half of the season while twins Isobel and Cecelia Joyce's involvement in the cricket world ensured a further reduction in numbers.
MEN: CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS: Tomorrow: semi-finals: Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Belfield, 2.0; Lisnagarvey v Three Rock Rovers, 4.15. Sunday: Final, Belfield, 4.30.
WOMEN: CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS: Tomorrow: Loreto v Railway Union, Belfield, 9.30; Pegasus v Hermes, Belfield, 11.45. Sunday: Final, Belfield, 2.15.
ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS: Today: UCD v Galway, Belfield, 6pm; Belfast Harlequins v UCC, Belfield, 8pm. Tomorrow: UCC v Galway, Pembroke, 2pm; UCD v Belfast HQ, Pembroke, 4pm. Sunday: UCC v UCD, Belfield, 10.0; Belfast Harlequins v Galway, Belfield, 12.0.
