Glenanne up for big test

HOCKEY MEN'S PREVIEW:AFTER AN extended rest from competitive play for most sides, the New Year kicks off in Leinster with a prize game in Serpentine Avenue. The Division One meeting is between the two most successful teams of the past decade, Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers.

Glenanne are the only team to take three points from Pembroke this season, and doubtlessly their descent from the mountains this weekend will be fired with the same ambition; a repeat performance putting them in a great position to have a long hard look at the title.

It remains tight at the top of the table and both sides share that lofty position with YMCA, all three clubs on 13 points with just five matches played.

On the issues of matches played or not played, the Leinster Branch have extended the league for teams in lower divisions but the senior games lost to the snow over Christmas have to be squeezed in between February and March as two days in April are reserved for the Irish Senior Cup and the IHL.

Extending the senior programme would take clubs well into May. A date for the Neville Cup final, which has traditionally been played on St Stephen’s Day, will be shortly finalised by the branch.

YMCA face bottom team Weston in Lucan. Weston continues to struggle with adjusting to the higher level as most clubs that gain promotion have done. They earned their first point before Christmas but can expect no late presents from YMCA.

UCD will be hoping to pull away from Weston at the bottom by picking up something in their home match against Corinthians, while fourth-placed Monkstown travel to Grange Road to meet Three Rock Rovers, who they beat 2-1 earlier in the season.

The remaining game in division one has Fingal hosting Railway Union in ALSAA. Currently in fifth place on the table, the season has been going quite well for the Park Avenue side, who have already beaten Fingal 4-1.

Tomorrow– Leinster Senior League, Division One: Fingal v Railway Union ALSAA, 1.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Serpentine Ave, 2.00; Three Rock Rovers v Monkstown Grange Road, 2.15; University College Dublin v Corinthian, Belfield, 1.00; Weston v YMCA, Griffeen Park 3.00. Munster Senior League: UCC v C of I Mardyke Arena, 12.00; Harlequins v Harlequins B Farmers Cross, 4.00.