MEN'S HOCKEY LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: THREE ROCK Rovers' slip-up last week in the Leinster Senior League has opened things up at the top of the table. They fall to third place following their surprise defeat by Railway Union. Rovers' lapse also allows Glenanne to come back into contention in the race for honours and with Rovers due to meet Pembroke this weekend in the match of the weekend, things could all change again.
Pembroke may have preferred Rovers not to have lost as the Grange Road side will have to inject even more urgency into Saturday's meeting. Defeat by Pembroke would push them well off the pace, having led for so long. Home advantage should aid Rovers' cause. Joint-leaders Glenanne meet a more confident Railway Union, while Monkstown take a weekend off as the UCD students remain on a break as they complete their exams.
Fingal, like Railway, should meet Kilkenny with all guns firing. Gaining their first points in the Irish Hockey league last week with Rovers once again being the fall guys, Fingal should collect all the points at ALSAA. Kilkenny will have to be especially well disciplined as Michael McGuinness fired in two drag flicks last week from short corners to see off Rovers 2-0.
In Ulster defending champions Cookstown face rivals Lisnagarvey twice in six days over the festive period, in the Kirk Cup Final on December 26th and tomorrow in the Premier League. Both games are at Hillsborough. Cookstown are at full strength with only long-term absentee Godfrey Irwin missing, while Lisnagarvey also select from a full squad.
Second-placed Annadale have injury doubts over captain Jonny Quigley and Peter Caruth, who sustained a hand injury in last week's encounter with Cookstown. Definitely out are Andy McGimpsey (hamstring) and Aaron Mills (work commitments). Unbeaten Banbridge are the visitors to UUJ and they welcome back Ross McCandless from suspension while Stephen Dowds, Stephen Forbes and Drew Carlisle are all available after missing last week through illness.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE. Glenanne v Railway Union, 1.00 Glenanne Park; YMCA v Corinthians, 2.00 Claremont Road; TRR v Pembroke, 1.00 Grange Road; Fingal v Kilkenny, 2.30 ALSAA; UCD v Monkstown postponed.
ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: Mossley v Instonians, 2.30 The Glade; Lisnagarvey v Cookstown, 2.30 Hillsborough; Bangor v Raphoe, 2.30 Ballykillaire; Annadale v Banbridge, 2.30 UUJ.
