Glenanne hope midfield cavalry can rescue them

MEN'S HOCKEY:  GLENANNE WENT down in the opening match of the European Club Trophy event at the Montrouge club in Paris yesterday. The Dublin side fell behind by a goal to trail at half-time to Ukrainian outfit Kolos Sekovia, before conceding three more goals in the second half to lose 4-2.

Eddie O'Malley junior and Jonathon Kane scored the Dublin side's goals from play, before falling with a weakened side. The midfield which won the Leinster Senior Cup on Monday, Stephen Butler, Alan Browne and Brendan Parsons, missed the game. Butler (work) and Browne (personal) arrive today, while Parsons went off after 10 minutes and, with his arm in a sling, is doubtful for the rest of the tournament.

Glenanne, who are competing in their first European competition in six years, face Czech side Slavia Praha today in their second match, before meeting the Grasshoppers team from Zurich in the final pool match tomorrow.

It is imperative they win their remaining matches if they have any hopes of emulating the 2002 tournament in Gibraltar where they won the silver medal.

They are also hoping to earn Ireland points in the European Hockey League. The new European venture is in its inaugural year, and the teams will be revised each season depending on how clubs perform at European level.

Pembroke fell 3-2 to Spanish Club Egara and 3-2 to Polish side KS Pocztoeiec Poznan last November, and so did not qualify for the next phase.

A draw in their final match against the Poles would have been enough to see them qualify for that phase, which is now being played, but a goal 40 seconds from the end brought a disappointing end to Ireland's first season in the top flight.

Irish club sides have a rating of 10th in Europe. Holland are on top, followed by Spain, Germany and England.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Today:European Club Trophy (Paris) Glenanne v Slavia Praha.

Tomorrow:Irish Junior Cup Final: Pembroke v Annadale, Belfield, noon; European Club Trophy, Glenanne v Grasshoppers Zurich. Sunday: European Club Trophy: Play-offs.