UCD target weekend victories

MEN'S HOCKEY:AS THE women take centre stage in Belfield this week, UCD hope to continue their rumble forward this season with two matches over the weekend.

After last week’s free-scoring run in Belfield when they hit six against Glenanne, UCD, who are the league’s top-scoring team with eight goals from two matches, are aiming high this year and looking for a top four place for the first time in their history.

With Three Rock Rovers’ Ross Canning and Railway’s Jeremy Duncan on the Belfield Elite Athlete’s Program along with several other new faces, Rory O’Donoghue, now into his third season as coach, hopes to keep the students on an upward trajectory.

Pembroke, who top the league, host UCD on Saturday with Fingal playing against them on Sunday. Fingal will be the target match for the students. The northside club just snatched the game in the dying minutes from Avoca last week but if UCD’s ambition is to make it to the Irish Hockey League for the first time at least one win is required.

Avoca take on Monkstown in what could be a testy battle of the Borough. Monkstown have the clear upper hand these days and will expect to leave Newpark with the points.

But Avoca’s three Tasmanian recruits will have recovered from their journey to Ireland and the home side may be more doughty than normal.

Elsewhere, Glenanne face Corinthians and will want to shake off last week’s mauling by UCD, while Three Rock Rovers, with two wins from their opening two matches, should expect to hold their second place on the table at home to Railway Union.