Pembroke can bounce back in Lucan

HOCKEY:GLENANNE'S WIN over Pembroke last weekend puts the Serpentine Avenue club in an unaccustomed third place in the table. Having been cut loose from the leading teams, YMCA and Glenanne, they can expect to bounce back this weekend with a relative come down against Weston in Lucan. With one point from seven games, Weston's position at the bottom tells its own story of struggle.

Still smarting from last week’s defeat and a Stephen Brownlow hat-trick for Glenanne, Pembroke are now three points adrift of the leaders, who both have challenging games on Saturday but have home advantage. Glenanne face Fingal and YMCA host UCD in Alexandra College.

Trevor Dagg’s YMCA know they are facing a team second from the bottom of the table, but UCD have also the potential to throw up odd results and while they have been finding it difficult to score goals, their three draws, including 0-0 last week against Corinthians, can sometimes make them a difficult team to beat. UCD have also drawn with Weston and Three Rock Rovers, although YMCA thrashed them 8-2 last time out.

The only two teams to change table positions since last week face each other in Whitechurch where Corinthians host neighbours Rovers. Corinthians sit in sixth position, with Rovers one place and one point behind them. Disappointed with their efforts so far this season, Corinthians will be looking to avenge a 4-1 defeat at Grange Road in October.

The remaining game sees Railway Union travel to Rathdown School to face Monkstown. The Sandymount side will be quietly confident of travelling but do arrive as underdogs having been edged out 4-3 back in October at Park Avenue.

The first round of the Irish Junior Cup also kicks off this weekend with over 30 teams and 15 fixtures scheduled for around the country this weekend.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday – Leinster Senior League, Division One: Glenanne v Fingal, Glenanne Park, 2.30; YMCA v UCD, Alexandra College, 4.45; Monkstown v Railway Union, Rathdown School, 1.0; Corinthians v Three Rock Rovers, Whitechurch Park, 1.0; Weston v Pembroke, Griffeen Valley, 2.0.