MEN'S HOCKEY:THERE IS going to be a Leinster team in the Irish Senior Cup final and with any luck, an Ulster team too – the way the provinces like it. Competitive, testy and a healthy rivalry to keep the pot stirring.
Just who will be involved in the final clash will be decided to some degree this weekend in Dublin, where the semi-final match between Pembroke and Glenanne takes place and in Cookstown, where the quarter-final clash between the home side and Banbridge will sort out most of the final mix of sides.
For Dubliners the match of the weekend is in Serpentine Avenue, where Pembroke Wanderers face their old rivals Glenanne, who come down from the mountain as confident as any team that comes to Ballsbridge.
The two clubs have been having a healthy cut at each other all through the season in various competitions but undoubtedly this is the biggest clash so far.
Glenanne arrive in Pembroke possibly without Joe Brennan. Struck on the knee with the ball last week in Cork during the interprovincial series, Brennan departed the competition on the Saturday night and was ordered on to crutches during the week.
The knee was initially too swollen for an X-ray. An unwavering fighter, he will doubtless get on to the pitch if at all possible but at the moment it looks like Glenanne could be a man down.
There has also been some speculation over the eligibility of Pembroke’s South African player, Vaughan Erasmus. As he played in the last round of the competition on February 28th against Mossley, it would appear all is well in the Serpentine Avenue camp.
However, some observers of the arcane art of competition registration (which varies for different competitions) appear to believe there could be an issue to resolve – and a pretty important one at that. If Erasmus has been correctly installed (and no better club than Pembroke to do that) then an interesting semi-final is in store. If not then surely the match against Mossley is questionable. One thing is sure, it will be ironed out before 2.15pm tomorrow afternoon.
