MEN'S HOCKEY:PEMBROKE WANDERERS have an interesting weekend ahead. As they face Corinthians in the Leinster Senior League on Saturday, Cookstown will be playing Belfast's Annadale for a place in the Irish Senior Cup final on April 26th. The final, of course, will be against Pembroke, who beat Glenanne on sudden-death penalties in the semi-finals last week after the match finished 1-1.
Corinthians, however, will go into their game against Pembroke boosted by the Leinster Branch Management Committee's decision to allow their appeal against a decision of the committee to reverse the result of the league match between them and Fingal on December 13th last.
The management committee decided the result of the match should stand in Corinthians' favour.
The committee's original decision was based on their view that Corinthians had breached Leinster Branch rules, by playing an unregistered player, South African international, Darren Kimfley. But the club demonstrated no such breach had taken place and that the decision was without foundation.
Domestically Pembroke will also be boosted by Ronan Gormley being made Irish captain for this week's matches against France. However, new Irish coach Paul Revington has made it clear that the squad has incorporated a five-man leadership team into the system. Graham Shaw and David Hobbs have also been nominated as vice-captains. "As the leader of the team, Ronan will bring a determined and experienced approach toward driving our Irish team forward," said Revington, whose ultimate goal over the next couple of years is to see Ireland qualify for the Olympic Games in London.
"He matches this approach with fundamental leadership values of integrity, honesty and on-field performance that builds great teams.
"Graham Shaw is entering the prime phase of his international career and therefore brings a degree of experience and playing quality to our process that is so critical."
This week's matches against France ended with a convincing 8-2 win in the first match and a 1-0 defeat in the second.
Monkstown face Three Rock Rovers at Rathdown without teenager Stephen Cole, who is on crutches following a toe injury sustained against Fingal. It's likely the talented youngster will be out of the game for another month.
Rovers are now chasing league leaders Pembroke, having dropped points in a 2-2 draw with YMCA last weekend.
YMCA currently lie seventh on the table.
SATURDAY: Irish Senior Cup semi-final:Cookstown v Annadale, Coolnafranky 1.00. Leinster Senior League: Monkstown v Three Rock Rovers, Rathdown 1.00; Pembroke Wanderers v Corinthians, Serpentine Avenue 12.00; UCD v Kilkenny, Belfield 4.45; Fingal v Glenanne, ALSAA 1.30
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior League:Corinthians v Three Rock Rovers, Grange Road 1.15.
