It seems a paradox in this rainy season that Irish hockey activity on the international front will resume in March - in Bangladesh. Apparently, Government funds there are being made available to stage a 10-nations tournament in Dhaka, with the hosts paying for air fares and accommodation - and Ireland are set to accept an invitation. Scotland are also likely to travel from this part of the world while Pakistan and India, naturally, will be among the other participants.
It is expected that the Irish Hockey Association will shortly confirm this assignment and that the national coach John Clarke will immediately name a training squad. Non-availability of leading players could be the only snag. The dates of the tournament, March 10th-20th, will not greatly disrupt the domestic programme, apart perhaps from postponing the decisive Leinster Senior League clash involving Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers.
Glenanne, in beating Railway Union 21 at Park Avenue on Saturday, have now moved to within four points of Pembroke at the top of the table as a result of the leaders being held to a 1-1 draw by Monkstown.
It was an irony that the province's most prolific marksman Justin Sherriff received the Computershare Player of the Month award for November after this game at Rathdown in which he failed to score for the first time in the campaign. This was largely due to an inspired goalkeeping performance by Shane Davey, making his league debut for Monkstown.
Furthermore, Pembroke also met tenacious resistance in the first half from a back four in which Gareth Evans, notably, was not in awe of reputations. But when Gordon Elliott lashed the visitors into the lead with a reverse-stick screamer from the top of the circle two minutes after the interval, it appeared that Pembroke were heading for another three-pointer.
From one of Monkstown's sporadic raids, however, Ian Stuart forced Nigel Henderson to parry a shot and Ian Allen swept the loose ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser. Although Pembroke then resumed their full press, four exceptional saves by Davey at full stretch foiled Sherriff of striking the winner.
Glenn Bailey was another goalkeeper in top form as Railway Union held a 1-0 lead at half-time through Padraig O'Brien, but Glenanne asserted themselves sufficiently for Mark Lambe and Stephen Butler to earn full points.
Corinthians, in overpowering Aer Lingus 7-2 at Whitechurch Park, have skipped into third place while Trinity moved off the bottom rung by gaining their first victory in the premier division, by the handsome margin of 5-1 to the chagrin of Three Rock Rovers at Santry.
The remaining third-round tie in the Irish Senior Cup saw Avoca emerging with a 2-1 win at Bangor, with the deciding goal coming at a late stage from Brendan Shiels. The Dubliners, who were mainly in control, now face another trip to Ulster in January to take on Instonians.
