MEN'S HOCKEY IRISH LEAGUE:SENSIBLY, THE matches in the final phase of the pool games will all start at the same time this weekend as the business end of the Irish Hockey League plays out. For Dublin side Pembroke, who host the prestigious European Hockey Club Trophy next weekend at Serpentine Avenue, a successful meeting with Annadale could help make this one of their most successful years for some time.
Pembroke are also in the Irish Senior Cup final, where they face Cookstown later this month.
Sitting third in Pool A, Pembroke are three points behind Annadale with, Glenanne, in second position, just one point adrift. Glenanne face Cookstown in what is an incredibly tight final day’s play.
It’s a mathematician’s dream and in anticipation of that the IHL have scheduled all of the Pool A matches for a 3pm start in order to give none of the teams an unfair advantage of knowing what they have to do to qualify.
Given the bonus-point system is in operation there are a maximum of four points on offer in each game. Annadale, Glenanne and Pembroke can all potentially qualify for the top two play-off places, while the bottom three clubs, Cookstown, Instonians and Cork Harlequins, are out of the running.
But Pembroke also understand they may need goals as well as a win. They will have to chase four points because Annadale not only have better points but also a better goal difference. A draw would probably do Glenanne for a qualifying place as that would give them a maximum of 13 points.
In Pool B, all the games begin at 3.30pm, with Cork C of I, on 12 points, in the best position to claim the top slot. The added twist here is they have to meet second-placed Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road.
Just as in Pool A, the third-placed side, Banbridge, could also sneak a place, depending on how the results and the scorelines fall.
Monkstown, who are out of the running, must travel to Havelock Park to face the lively Banbridge crowd. Both C of I and Rovers must assume the home side could maximise home advantage and claim four points for a total of 13 points. That would leave Rovers needing at least two points and C of I needing at least one. If all teams end on the same points goal difference is the deciding factor.
The reward for success this weekend is a finals weekend in Belfield which will be televised by Setanta.
IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE:Pool A: Glenanne v Cookstown, Glenanne Park, 3pm; Cork Harlequins v Instonians, Farmers Cross, 3pm; Pembroke Wanderers v Annadale, Serpentine Avenue, 3pm. Pool B: Banbridge v Monkstown, Havelock Park, 3.30; Lisnagarvey v Fingal, Hillsborough, 3.30; Three Rock Rovers v Cork C of I, Grange Road, 3.30.
