Men's hockey Weekend previewsIt is remarkable that Glenanne, all-Ireland champions in 2000 and Irish Senior Cup winners in 2001, remain so durable, even without such leading, departed figures as Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw. Heading into the defining stages of the season, they are still in contention (Chelsea-like) for all the major trophies, with bringing off the Leinster League and cup double probably seen as the best prospect.
Nevertheless, their great rivals of this era, Pembroke Wanderers, are determined to hold on to the league title, giving much substance to tomorrow's clash between the joint leaders at Serpentine Avenue.
Pembroke rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 in their earlier league meeting at Tallaght, but it was Glenanne who finished the stronger in winning 2-1 in a Mills Cup first-round tie.
In the latter game, defences had become more settled - which one would expect from Glenanne's mature back four - while Pembroke's improvisations in this sector have been working out encouragingly, with Stephen Smyth being groomed effectively as Duncan McKeen's successor.
Overall, Pembroke are particularly well equipped with midfielders, not least Ronan Gormley, who, with Colin Kelly back, could move forward to join John Jermyn and Paddy Conlon on this occasion.
So it is opportune for Glenanne that Devin Kehoe has become fully available to support Alan Browne. Furthermore, if David Shaw has recovered from injury, the exchanges will be all the more evenly balanced. Then, what Pembroke supporters fear most is that John Goulding will make another deadly touch.
Aer Lingus may still cling to the hope that the summit game will be another draw, but retaining third place comfortably is now a more realistic target for all-Ireland participation. Yet, to make sure of this, they need to reverse a 4-3 defeat by Monkstown when they visit Booterstown tomorrow.
Corinthians, who (while out of the running) could still dent the ambitions of one or other of the leading sides in the weeks ahead, have had tomorrow's league fixture against Three Rock Rovers postponed. This enables the two sides to concentrate on their meeting in Sunday's Mills Cup quarter-final at Whitechurch Park. Both need to gain something out of the season, but Glenanne, who have received a walkover from over-burdened Avoca, are odds-on favourites in this competition.
On a broader front, the Irish Junior Cup reaches the semi-final stage tomorrow with Kilkenny travelling to meet Banbridge II while Cork Harlequins II are hosts to Railway Union II.
The home teams will be expected to prevail, though Kilkenny, led by Hugh Kelly, have built a promising side based on their successes at schoolboys level a few years ago.
TOMORROW: Irish Junior Cup: Semi-finals: Cork Harlequins II v Railway Union II, Farmer's Cross, 1.0 (I Bolger, N Mackay); Banbridge II v Kilkenny, Havelock Park, 1.0 (D Glasgow, O DiVito). Leinster Senior League: Division One: Monkstown v Aer Lingus, St Andrew's, 1.30; Clontarf v YMCA, Mount Temple, 1.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Glenanne, Serpentine Avenue, 2.15. Division Two: Naas v St Brendan's-Phoenix Park, Naas, 2.15; Bray v Skerries, Loreto Bray, 12.15; Avoca v Weston, Newpark, 1.45; Portrane v Suttonians, RCSI, 1.0; UCD v St James's Gate, Belfield, 2.45.
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior (Mills) Cup: Quarter-finals: Naas v YMCA, Naas, 1.0; Monkstown v Railway Union, St Andrew's, 1.30; Corinthians v Three Rock Rovers, Whitechurch Park, 2.15.
