YMCA strike late to deny Glenanne

MEN'S HOCKEY: YMCA AND Glenanne contrived to keep the Leinster Senior League alive for a little bit longer over the weekend. Just as Glenanne needed a point to secure the title, YMCA popped up with one of their better performances to nick the match seconds from the final whistle.

It’s the second big game in a few weeks Glenanne have seen taken from them at the death. Monkstown snatched a goal in the Leinster Senior Cup final to propel that game into extra-time, one Glenanne finally lost.

But the Tallaght side have three matches remaining and are two points clear of YMCA at the top of the table, so the league title remains very much in their hands and few can see them slipping up so spectacularly at this stage.

Indeed they will get the chance of securing the title in a couple of days’ time as they face Corinthians in a midweek fixture at Whitechurch Park.

For YMCA their second place, if they can maintain that to the end, will benefit them next season with three home ties in the Irish Hockey League.

At the bottom of the table Weston will be relegated and they will probably have few complaints. If there is any sort of think tank in Leinster over the summer maybe they will consider how to close the gap between Division One and Two. It is heartening to see Railway Union break away from the bottom clubs and really threaten the top sides after some years of flirting with the relegation play-offs. Their fifth place is testament to a strong season, the 6-0 win over Weston ensuring a safe mid-table place.

It looks like a scrap between UCD and Fingal for the relegation play-off place. The students are on 10 points, Fingal on 14, with two league matches remaining.