MEN'S HOCKEY:YMCA MOVED two points clear at the top of the Leinster first division on Saturday, holding off a late rally from UCD to take advantage of second-placed Glenanne being held to a draw at home by Fingal earlier in the day.
By the time goals from Andy Walker (penalty stroke), Marcus Richardson, Phil Marshall and Jamie Tobin put the league leaders 4-1 up against the students, having trailed at the break to a Shane Nolan goal, they seemed destined to win with as much ease as they did in their 8-2 victory over the same opponents earlier in the season.
By full-time, though, UCD had narrowed the deficit to a single goal, Tim Hill pulling one back before Walker’s second penalty stroke, with Shane O’Donnell and Conor Motyer then scoring for the visitors to set up a nervy final few minutes for the hosts.
Glenanne, in contrast, failed to hold off Fingal’s quest for a late equaliser in Tallaght, Paddy Gahan’s goal near the death making it 3-3 and depriving the title contenders of two valuable points.
Two goals in each half gave third-placed Pembroke Wanderers a comfortable win away to Weston, one that lifts them to within a point of Glenanne, but Monkstown and Railway Union, in fourth and fifth respectively, made no headway on the top three after drawing 2-2 at Rathdown.
The teams in sixth and seventh also drew, Lucas Piccioli getting a late equaliser for Corinthian against his former club Three Rock Rovers.
