MEN'S HOCKEY IRISH LEAGUE:THREE ROCK Rovers have Phelie Maguire back for their meeting with Banbridge in the Irish Hockey League tomorrow. The Brussels-based former Trinity graduate, who has recently returned from Palestine, where he has been working in conflict resolution, may well have to employ some of those professional skills for his club.

Testy at the best of time, Banbridge arrive needing a win to keep their target of the semi-finals alive. The trouble is Rovers also badly need to win in order to skip over the Ulster side. If they earn a bonus point with a win Rovers could even see themselves sitting in top place.

For that to happen table toppers Cork C of I would have to fall to Lisnagarvey in Garryduff. However, Lisnagarvey have only three points from three matches and that possibility seems remote. It could come down to set-pieces with John Jermyn and Tim Cockram pinging them from corners.

In Dublin, Pembroke’s meeting with Glenanne on Sunday in Pool A should bring out the crowd. The Serpentine Avenue side appear to have recovered from gastroenteritis, while Ronan Gormley has also recovered from injury. The teams drew 3-3 last month, Glenanne coming back from 3-1 down. However, because Annadale and Cookstown are a game behind as a result of the recent bad weather, hidden dangers remain.

But with 10 points secured so far, even a draw against Pembroke would put Glenanne on 12 points and in a healthy position to qualify for the semi-finals.

The finals of the competition in the men’s and women’s game, scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd, will be held at Grange Road. The primary reason for the relocation to the Three Rock Rovers’ club from the National Hockey Stadium in UCD was to secure television coverage by Setanta Sports.

Just who will play in May will be made clearer after the fifth and final weekend, which takes place on April 3rd-4th, where the top two sides from each pool will progress through to the semi-finals on May 2nd.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Irish Hockey League: Cookstown v Cork Harlequins, Coonafranky, 2.0; Three Rock Rovers v Banbridge, Grange Road, 3.30. Sunday: Irish Hockey League: Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Serpentine Avenue, 3.0; Annadale v Instonians, Jordanstown, 2.0; C of I v Lisnagarvey, Garryduff, 1.0; Monkstown v Fingal, Belfield, 3.30. Leinster Senior League: Three Rock Rovers v YMCA, Grange Road. 3.0.