Pressure on leaders to maintain title chase

HOCKEY: A year ago Glenanne all but wrapped up the Leinster first division title when they beat their closest challengers Pembroke Wanderers 3-1 at Serpentine Avenue.

Twelve months on, however, it is Pembroke who are in the ascendancy and they have it in their power to effectively end the champions' hopes of retaining their title when the teams meet in Tallaght on Sunday.

Pembroke top the table by three points from Three Rock Rovers and are seven clear of Glenanne. Rovers should draw level tomorrow after playing bottom club Bray, putting the pressure on Pembroke to regain their lead with at least a point on Sunday.

Glenanne, though, with Graham Shaw and Stephen Butler back in action, were impressive last weekend in their 4-3 win over Rovers in the Mills Cup semi-finals, twice coming from behind before Butler got the golden goal winner in extra time.

Pembroke won the other semi-final, Alan Sothern adding to the five goals he scored against Bray the previous day by getting both his team's goals in the defeat of Fingal, but the victory was overshadowed by an injury to Conor Harte who is likely to miss the rest of the season with a fracture to his collar bone.

Pembroke can, though, now call upon Ronan Gormley as a replacement in defence, the player available again after taking a break following the Olympic Qualifier.

Glenanne, too, have a more than useful reinforcement to call upon in the shape of Johnny Goulding who has returned from his travels.

TOMORROW:Leinster League: Division One: Bray v Three Rock Rovers, Bray, 1.30; Fingal v YMCA, ALSAA, 2.0; Monkstown v Kilkenny, Rathdown, 1.0; UCD v Corinthian, Belfield, 1.15. SUNDAY:Leinster League: Division One: Glenanne v Pembroke Wanderers, Tallaght, 2.30.