Battle for Senior Cup hots up

MEN'S HOCKEY ROUND-UP:GLENANE MAY not like it but by dint of putting Pembroke out of the race for this year's Irish Senior Cup and denying the champions a three-in-a-row run, they have installed themselves as favourites for the competition, now at the semi-final stage.

This weekend in Grange Road should be a useful test for Glenanne as Three Rock Rovers seek to put their name on a trophy that used to fall into their lap on a regular basis but in modern times has not visited the Rathfarnham club since 1974, when they defeated Cork C of I 2-1.

Monkstown too are within touching distance of a cup they have not won since their 1-0 defeat of Queen’s University in 1914.

Glenanne and Monkstown’s opponents, Annadale, are not about to turn over for the sake of squaring off some history issues for rival clubs because they have their own considerable historical problem to attend to. The only remaining Ulster club in the 2010 event have never won the competition in their 114-year history.

Annadale reached the final in 2007 but were beaten by Glenanne 4-3 after extra-time and a golden goal.

In the quarter-final round, Monkstown disposed of Kilkeel in a nine-goal match, finally coming out the right side of the 5-4 scoreline, while in a tight game, Annadale edged out Banbridge 2-1. Glenanne’s disposal of Pembroke should add to their confidence of driving on for a third Irish Cup win in the last 10 years, with Rovers equally believing that if they can fight off Ulster’s Lisnagarvey, then why not their neighbours for a place in the final.

The Irish Hockey Association have also announced they will induct four new members into the Hockey Hall of Fame at their Annual ESB Irish Hockey Awards ceremony on May 29th in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

Munster and Ireland midfielder Eddie Cummins, Margaret Gleghorne, who was capped when still a schoolgirl in 1972, the only Kerry woman to have played hockey for Ireland, goalkeeper Mary Geaney and British bronze medallist and Ireland centre back Billy McConnell will be honoured at the function.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Irish Senior Cup semi-finals:Three Rock Rovers v Glenanne, Grange Road, 3pm; Monkstown v Annadale, Rathdown, 1.30pm .