MEN'S HOCKEY: THREE ROCK Rovers and Pembroke Wanderers both warmed up for the inaugural matches in the Irish Hockey League next weekend with 5-1 wins on Saturday, Three Rock finally seeing off the challenge of UCD after stubborn resistance from the students and Pembroke beating YMCA.
UCD were still in the game 10 minutes in to the second half, the score at 1-1, but Three Rock found their range, Mick Maguire, Gary Ringwood (two) and Neal Megarity securing the points. Meanwhile, two goals apiece from Alan Sothern and Conor Harte helped Pembroke to their victory over YMCA.
The three other Leinster sides involved in the IHL next weekend - Fingal, Glenanne and Monkstown - had to settle for draws, with Monkstown and Fingal sharing the points at Rathdown. Fingal will have been the happier with the result, having had to survive a string of penalty corners, but took a first-half lead through Adrian Sweeney before Alan Lewis equalised after the break.
Glenanne also had to battle back for a point in their game against Corinthian, needing goals from Stephen Butler and Eddie O'Malley in the last eight minutes, having trailed 3-1. Kilkenny had no such struggles against Railway Union, a double from Tom Manning helping them to a 5-2 win.
In Munster Church of Ireland got the better of Cork Harlequins, both sides also in IHL action next weekend, Alec Moffett getting their first with 15 minutes to go, David Hobbs making it 2-0 from a short corner at the death.
LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Kilkenny 5 (T Manning 2, H Kelly, P Maher, G Sharman), Railway Union 2 (P O'Brien, M English); Corinthians 3 (S Lopsey, K Eggert, G Holmes), Glenanne 3 (G Shaw, S Butler, E O'Malley); Monkstown 1 (A Lewis), Fingal 1 (A Sweeney); Pembroke Wanderers 5 (A Sothern 2, C Harte 2, C Fulton), YMCA 1 (W Powderley); UCD 1 (R McFarlane), Three Rock Rovers 5 (G Ringwood 2, M Maguire, P Blakeney, N Megarity).
MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Catholic Institute 2 (G Creamer, E Calender), Cork Harlequins II 1 (G Fromme); Cork Harlequins 0, Church of Ireland 2 (A Moffett, D Hobbs); UCC 0, Bandon 1 (A Kingston).
