Corinthians need to act quickly

MEN'S HOCKEY:EARLY-SEASON fare or is there a levelling out of the standard of teams? The stronger sides from last season continue to adjust to having lost players over the summer, while some of the teams that struggled in last season's league looked a little bit better equipped.

Corinthians, who possibly suffered most with Pembroke from player haemorrhage, fell badly to Three Rock Rovers, conceding four and hitting back just once in their Grange Road meeting.

For a team that would have had ambitions last season to be there or thereabouts in the final mix of league and cup, Corinthians are going to have to work out something fast.

Level and scoreless at the break Ross Varian knocked in two goals for Rovers with Shane Madeley scoring another and Gary Ringwood added one for the home side from the penalty spot. Just a lone reply from Neil Young made it almost decent for the neighbours.

Glennane romped to their second win of the season and joined Monkstown as the only two Leinster teams that have won their opening matches, while Pembroke's 3-1 win over Weston was predictable enough.

The newly-promoted side fell to two goals from former Irish striker Gordon Elliott and one from Ronan Flannery.

Monkstown admirably pulled through at Park Avenue against Railway Union in a match where the lead initially changed hands. Stephen Cole and Gareth Watkins grabbed a goal each, just as they did in their opening match last week, with Andy Ewington and Kyle Goode also netting for a 4-2 lead.

Peter Yates, Eoin McArthur and finally Rob Abbott scored for Railway and although losing the match they will perhaps feel that there is some improvement in their game.

Glenanne's 4-2 win over Fingal was generally well controlled for the visitors, who took the lead before David Bane equalised from a corner.

But Glenanne's general strength and know-how prevailed. Shane O'Donoghue hit two for the Glens with other goals coming from Mick McGuinness and Gary Shaw. Fingal's second arrived from the stick of Adrian Sweeney.