MEN'S HOCKEY NEWS ROUND-UP: THE IRISH Hockey Association has called off the men's and women's under-21 interprovincial tournament, scheduled for this weekend at Grange Road, because of the severe weather Dublin has been experiencing recently.
The pitch at Rovers, which is essentially up in the Dublin Mountains, has been unplayable now for two weeks and the weather outlook for the next five days is unfavourable.
Taking a pragmatic stance as alternative venues in Dublin were not available, the IHA sought to save provinces money by taking an early decision rather than a wait and see approach.
Hopefully this will enable branches to cancel their own arrangements with minimal financial penalties.
In the Leinster Senior League the big match of the weekend is Pembroke’s visit to Glenanne Park, another venue not to far from the mountains.
Pembroke currently lead the table on 31 points with Glenanne tucked comfortably behind on 30 points. Both sides have played 13 games.
Turning to the indoor game, Three Rock Rovers won the Tony Byrne Indoor League last Sunday in the National Basketball Arena, when they beat YMCA 4-3 in the final. While Paul O’Brien, who has loyally soldiered along with the indoor game for years, steps down, it is hoped that someone equally enthusiastic will take up the indoor organising duties.
Liam Canning, who is clearly not servicing his single figure golf handicap around Woodenbridge in this weather, popped up to score two goals for the winners.
The seasoned former international and Avoca European campaigner, will travel with Rovers to Europe as Irish champions. Venezuelan international, Lucas Piccoli netted the reverse stick winner in the final minute of extra-time to add to the scores from Canning and Andy McConnell with Graham O’Neill, Jacob Webber and Will Powderly scoring one a piece for YMCA. In the semi-finals YMCA beat Corinthians and Rovers defeated Monkstown.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday. Leinster Senior League: Division one: Fingal v Kilkenny, ALSAA, 1.0; Glenanne v Pembroke, Glenanne Park, 1.30; Railway v Monkstown, Park Avenue, 2.0.
