HOCKEY:AFTER THE high-octane weekend of Barcelona and the Euro Hockey League, it's back to the domestic front for Leinster clubs Glenanne and Pembroke.
Pembroke arrive back in Dublin with a little more confidence having won one of their two European group matches, against Scottish champions Kelburne, while losing to Rotterdam. Still, they made it through to the final 16.
While the Paul Cooke-coached Railway Union have been doing well at the start of this season, they will look on their visit to Pembroke’s Serpentine Avenue with a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation. It is within Pembroke’s scope to win all in front of them this season and their only Leinster League match to date ended 11-0. Say no more.
Railway drew with Corinthians two weeks ago and beat Clontarf 2-0 last time out so they are in good fettle for what is a big game.
Top-of-the-table Three Rock Rovers entertain Monkstown and hope to defend their perfect start to the league campaign in Grange Road. Monkstown have had mixed results in their opening three matches. They drew with YMCA, beat UCD and last week lost to Corinthians 4-3. The south Dublin side have been scoring goals but have also been letting them in.
Corinthians’ meeting with Glenanne will be interesting as it brings together two of the more ambitious clubs. Glenanne have won their only match while Corinthians promised much at the start of the season but have not been as dominant as they might have hoped.
They have scored eight goals from three games which is healthy and sit second on the table, but dropping a point to Railway in their second outing may ultimately cost them. Glenanne arrive back chastened from their trip to Barcelona (two defeats) and are without Irish defender Joe Brennan, who broke his thumb in Spain.
Clontarf are struggling but can hope for something from their game with Fingal, while YMCA, who seem to be slowly growing in confidence, face UCD.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE:
Division 1: Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, 2.00pm, Serpentine Avenue; Clontarf v Fingal, 2.15, Mount Temple School; Three Rock Rovers v Monkstown, 3.00, Grange Road; Corinthians v Glenanne, 2.30, Whitechurch Park; YMCA v UCD, 2.00, Alexandra College Milltown.
Division Two: Navan v Avoca, 12.30, Kings Hospital; Dublin University v Weston, 1.15, Grange Road; Bray v Suttonians, 2.30, Bray.
