Railway face big test

HOCKEY:WHAT MAY be in the back of the minds of top clubs this weekend is the first round of the Irish Hockey League that starts on October 9th. With Glenanne, Pembroke, Monkstown and YMCA all involved in that national competition, the four sides will be looking for a bit of form in the run in. A few of them will do that over two matches this weekend, with the Neville Cup scheduled for Sunday after Saturday's league fare.

Glenanne needed a late goal to see off Pembroke last week as did Monkstown in their defeat of Three Rock Rovers.

Regardless, the wins are what count and Glenanne’s meeting with Fingal this week would be expected to yield another few points for the Tallaght side.

Railway Union’s Ian O’Keeffe will have his hands full after a successful start to the league campaign. The former international, who played his hockey around the corner in Pembroke, is now coaching the Railway side who face a confident Monkstown at Park Avenue on Saturday.

Railway then return to their home ground on Sunday, where Trevor Dagg’s YMCA arrive for a Neville Cup quarter-final meeting.

Monkstown’s 2-1 win over Rovers in their opener will be good for confidence but so will Railway’s four goals against Fingal. Monkstown arrive as favourites but if Railway are looking to poke their heads into the upper end of the table, this will be a fitting test of their capability.

Pembroke face Weston at home in the league and Fingal in the cup and few would expect anything but two wins for the likely championship contenders.

Three Rock Rovers suffered a late winner last week from Monkstown’s Gareth Watkins and will be looking to bounce back when they host Corinthians in Grange Road.

This will be Corinthians’ first outing and Rovers will be keen to avoid kicking off their year with two straight defeats.

Corinthians have lost Brian Doherty to Belgian side Braxgata and Andrew Cronje and Darren Kimfley to South Africa, which is a large hole to fill in anyone’s book.

FIXTURES:Saturday: Leinster Senior League: Division One – Pembroke Wanderers v Weston, Serpentine Ave, 2.30; Three Rock Rovers v Corinthian, Grange Road, 2.15; Fingal v Glenanne, ALSAA 1pm; Railway Union v Monkstown, Park Ave, 2.45. Division Two:Avoca v Rathgar Chiefs, Newpark, 1.45; Dublin University v Bray, Grange Rd, 2.15; Navan v Clontarf, King's Hosp, 12.30.

Sunday:Neville Cup: quarter-finals: Pembroke Wanderers v Fingal, Serpentine Ave, 2pm; Clontarf v Monkstown, Mt Temple 2.15; Glenanne v UCD, Glenanne Park, 1.30. Railway Union v YMCA, Park Ave, 3pm.