HOCKEY MEN'S:A 1pm start in Grange Road and a weather forecast of between -1 and -4 degrees could make for another frustrating day for Dublin's Three Rock Rovers and Ulster side Cookstown. With two Irish Senior Cup matches due to be replayed because of the weather a few weeks ago, the hope is this match and Monkstown's journey to Raphoe will not be in vain.
All four clubs are hoping to secure a place in the quarter-finals, which has opened up now that the mighty Pembroke are no longer contenders.
Home advantage would suit a talented Rovers side, but they cannot ignore the fact Cookstown head the Ulster Senior League table with only two defeats in 12 matches. With 40 goals scored in those games (only Lisnagarvey, with 46, have scored more), Rovers can expect one of the biggest challenges of their season to date.
Monkstown will be buoyed somewhat by struggling Raphoe’s lesser position at the bottom of the Ulster League table. They have not won a league match, with just three drawn games keeping them in the Premier League’s relegation zone.
The weekend also sees the return of a league programme following last week’s indoor cup and various cup competitions prior to that.
Pembroke and Glenanne will be looking to make up ground on league leaders Corinthian, who face a tough game in Milltown against a dangerous YMCA side.
Pembroke, boosted by the fact many of their squad enjoyed victory in last week’s indoor competition, travel to Fingal, who are looking to pull away from the teams below to a higher point of safety. Glenanne have the less onerous task of dispatching bottom-of-the-table Clontarf in Tallaght.
On Sunday, Rovers have an outing in the Leinster Senior Cup against neighbours Corinthian. Again the Grange Road side have home advantage in an attractive cup tie.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday– Irish Senior Cup – Round two: Three Rock Rovers v Cookstown, Grange Road, 1.0; Raphoe v Monkstown, Royal Prior, 2.30. Leinster Senior League – Division One: Glenanne v Clontarf, Glenanne Park, 3.0; YMCA v Corinthians, Alexandra College, 1.30. Division Two: Suttonians v Weston, Sutton Park, 1.0; Avoca v Bray, Newpark, 1.45; Dublin University v Navan, Grange Road, Back Pitch, 2.0.
Sunday– Leinster Senior League – Division One: Fingal v Pembroke Wanderers, Alsaa, 2.30. Leinster Senior Cup: Three Rock Rovers v Corinthians, Grange Road, 3.0.
