The focus tomorrow remains on the Leinster League, with the spotlight on Three Rock Rovers as they take the M50 to tackle Glenanne, the pace-setters, after collecting four points last week in their 5-2 defeat of Corinthians and 2-2 draw with Pembroke Wanderers.
A significant factor in those two performances was Rovers' unflinching effort in shading 50/50 duels, and if that nuggety approach can be repeated at St Mark's, Glenanne - who won 4-2 at Grange Road at the start of the campaign - may be forced into conceding points this time.
Ross Varian, reckoned to be one of the youngest first XI skippers in Rovers' history, can be sure of the fullest support as he takes on the responsibility of marking the equally youthful international midfielder Stephen Butler.
Pembroke will have a deep resolve to defeat Monkstown at Rathdown tomorrow. Monkstown had the better of a 2-2 draw at Serpentine Avenue in September, but Pembroke now seem to have the greater depth of resources.
Pembroke II, though, start the defence of the Irish Junior Cup with a testing visit from Corinthians II, while an interesting feature of the opening round will be the quest for success of the Munster first-division sides, Limerick and Bandon, who travel to Mossley and Parkview, respectively.
TOMORROW: Leinster Senior League - Division One: Aer Lingus v Avoca, 2.45; Corinthians v YMCA, 12.30; Glenanne v Three Rock Rovers, 12.0; Monkstown v Pembroke, 2.30; Dublin University v UCD 2.0; Division Two: Clontarf v Portrane, 2.30; Railway Union v Bray, 12.0; Eastern Health v Suttonians 3.0; St James's Gate v St Brendan's, 1.0; Weston v Skerries, 3.45.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP - First round: Galway w/o North Down, scr; Mossley II v Limerick, 2.30; Waterford v Omagh, 2.0; Saintfield v Banbridge II, 2.30; Kilkeel II v YMCA II, 4.0; Annadale II v Three Rock Rovers II, 1.0; Monkstown II v Cork C of I II, 12.15; Railway Union II v East Antrim, 3.30; Avoca II v Glenanne II, 1.45; Lisnagarvey II v NICS II, Blaris, 4.0; Pembroke II v Corinthians II, 3.0; Antrim II v Larne, 1.0; Kilkenny v Cookstown II, 2.30; UCD II v Ballinahinch, 1.0 ; Parkview v Bandon, 1.0; Cork Harlequins II v Raphoe II, 2.0.
SUNDAY: Leinster Under-21 semi-finals: Pembroke v Corinthians, 4.30; Three Rock Rovers v YMCA, 2.30.
LIMERICK HC (v Mossley II) - A Jollie; R Ryan (capt), K Fleming, L Gardiner, G Acheson, S Connell, G Hanna, P Eacrett, E Duignan, M O'Brien, B Downes, G Blackwell, D Kavanagh, K Clarke; coach: M Bell.
