WHILE Pembroke Wanderers are poised to become Leinster Senior League champions for the third time in four seasons, it will be invigorating to have UCD among the fresh challengers in the autumn.
The university will be in the premier division for the first time, possibly leading to student hockey making a significant new impact in Irish circles.
"We have the players to hold our own in the first division," said club president Cormac Kilty yesterday. "Indeed, we will not be losing anyone next season and we will be continuing our scholarship programme. I would like to pay special tribute to our coach Gerry McCabe, who has made a marvellous contribution in shaping the team, and to our captain Owen Butler who never let the heads drop."
UCD clinched top spot in Division Two by winning 4-2 at Carlow on Saturday. Whether the Belfield brigade will be joined by Dublin University - the oldest club - remains to be seen. The 1996-97 Trinity team have worked hard to honour tradition but they must face a play off against Aer Lingus to decide the second promotion place.
Trinity forced the play off with a 1-1 draw with St James's Gate at the Iveagh Grounds, in the last match to be played on grass at the historic venue before astroturf is laid. Alan McCauley gave the home side the lead but the students kept plugging away on the unfamiliar surface and were rewarded two minutes from the end when Simon Furney and Gareth Hinds at last out manoeuvred a defiant goalkeeper, in Mark Tormey, to poach the equaliser.
Earlier, Pembroke beat YMCA 2-0 with first half goals by Simon Kershaw and Devin Donnelly at Batlinteer While Three Rock Rovers' last hope of holding on to the title were wiped out in their 2-1 defeat by Avoca at Grange Road.
It was an encouraging performance by Avoca prior to their appearance in the European Cup Winners' Cup A division in Reading next weekend. Galahad Goulet looked particularly refreshed, slicing through continually in midfield, while David Hanna operated notable assurance in the back four. There was, too, a robustness in the side which might upset their more elite Continental opponents.
Christian Judd had put Rovers ahead at an early stage following a short corner but Trevor Dagg soon equalised and although Liam Canning was always a threat to the Avoca rearguard, Stephen Kinsella was valuably quick in his reactions. A second set piece delivery by Dagg decided the issue towards the end of a blustery affair.
Glenanne, who must rue their two failures against Avoca, mathematically stay in the running as at result of beating Railway Union 3-2 at Park Avenue on Saturday and defeating Corinthians 4-1 at St Mark's yesterday. But Pembroke - though their last match will be against Glenanne - are expected to wrap up the title by overpowering relegated Portrane.
Goals from Jimmy Shaw and Devin Kehoe seemed to have Glenanne comfortably in control at the interval against Railway but Neville Kavanagh won a penalty stroke, which was converted by Paul O'Brien, who then set up Karl Swan for an equaliser. It was a late strike by Alan Browne which earned both points for the visitors.
The battle for the Ulster title was reopened on Saturday when leaders Instonians went under 4-0 to Raphoe in Donegal.
