HOCKEY:THEY MIGHT be a little weary from their exertions in Kilkenny earlier in the week but UCD's confidence should be up as they resume their league campaign tomorrow, having beaten a three-in-a-row seeking UCC side, with a Rosie Carrigan golden goal, to win the Chilean Cup at the Intervarsity tournament.
An impressive opening to the season it has been too for the students, one they should maintain at Whitechurch if current form is anything to go by, their hosts, Corinthian, still looking for their first point of the campaign.
The game of the weekend looks to be the meeting of Division One leaders Railway Union - who have won all three of their matches to date - and Pembroke Wanderers, tied on eight points with Loreto in second place. Pembroke have so far defied any pre-season gloom following the loss of key players, their draws with Loreto and Hermes in particular proving the team's resilience. They have been helped, too, by South African-born Louisa Moore taking time out from the Irish set-up, ensuring her availability for club hockey.
Railway should, however, test Pembroke's mettle, having beaten champions Hermes, followed by 4-0 wins over Old Alexandra and Glenanne. That they came within seconds of drawing with Pegasus in Belfast in the Irish Hockey League, only for Kirsty McCollum to snatch the points with the last strike of the match, was an indication of their strength.
Having picked up their first Division One win last weekend, with a 2-1 defeat of Trinity, Bray will need to be at their sharpest when they take on free-scoring Loreto at Beaufort, while Glenanne face a daunting task against Hermes in Booterstown. Trinity will be looking for their first point of the season when they host Old Alexandra.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Tomorrow - Leinster League - Division One: Corinthian v UCD, Whitechurch, 12.45; Hermes v Glenanne, St Andrews, 12.0; Loreto v Bray, Beaufort, 2.0; Old Alexandra v Trinity, Milltown, 12.30; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers, Park Avenue, 3.0. Munster League - Division One: UCC v Church of Ireland, Mardyke, 11.0; Ashton v Belvedere, Ashton, 3.0.
