MEN'S HOCKEY:PEMBROKE WILL be sure to add another trophy to the Serpentine Avenue clubhouse this weekend if Corinthians drop a point to Glenanne tomorrow in the Leinster Senior League.
After their success in the Leinster Senior Cup on Wednesday when they defeated Fingal, the Ballsbridge club face Three Rock Rovers on Sunday but could have the title wrapped up if rivals Glenanne can disrupt the Corinthian party by taking just one point.
If Corinthians beat Glenanne, Pembroke can still wrap up the league on Sunday anyway. Pembroke are on top of the table with 43 points and just one match to play, Corinthians are on 39 points with two matches remaining. Glenanne, who also have two matches, are in third place on 35 points.
The likelihood is Pembroke will close the deal this weekend but perhaps a greater battle will be for fourth place and a slot in next season’s Irish Hockey League (IHL).
Monkstown are fourth on 29 points but Three Rock Rovers on 28 points and YMCA on 26 points are within striking distance.
The IHL is comprised of four teams from Ulster and Leinster, two from Munster and two wild cards, so really this weekend is the last throw of the dice, although, if clubs do not claim one of the automatic qualification places the wild-card option is the final one left.
It makes Monkstown’s match against Glenanne a must-win game for the Rathdown club and it also means Rovers and YMCA, both of whom have two matches remaining, must also be looking to win if they are to hold out hopes of claiming fourth place.
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