MEN'S HOCKEY/Weekend previews: With one trophy, the Stephen Doyle, safely on the cabinet in Serpentine Avenue and perhaps too easily won, Pembroke Wanderers face Glenanne in Tallaght on Saturday in what in previous years would have been a benchmark game.
That might not be true this season as Pembroke, provided they play their stongest side, already look a step ahead of the party.
While Glenanne are still evidently a dangerous team along with Three Rock Rovers, Corinthians and YMCA, it has been Aer Lingus who have had one of their better starts in years.
Having struck up a relationship with Dublin City University (DCU), who last season broke the traditional universities' hold on the Intervarsity trophy, Aer Lingus face Trinity this weekend with a team age profile that is more like the students than any other team aside from UCD.
With Derek O'Gorman back from his hurling summer in Dixboro and David Bane assuming a more commanding role in the centre of midfield, Aer Lingus have already beaten Monkstown, lost convincingly to Pembroke and won against Railway Union and UCD.
When Trinity faced Pembroke earlier in the season, they went a goal ahead before collapsing to the stronger side's pressure.
They could make life difficult at ALSAA but as Aer Lingus coaching co-ordinater John McInerney points out: "We've tended to start seasons well, go into a lull and then finish strongly. But this season I think our highs are higher and our minimum standards are much better. In a way the start has been surprising because a lot of our team were away for the summer and filtered back at the end of August."
Corinthians will look to collect the points at Whitechurch Park when Railway visit while YMCA will also expect to see off the Monkstown challenge, but not without some gritty resistance.
The Irish Junior Cup draw was also made this week with last year's winners Lisnagarvey up against a tough challenge in the first round. Pembroke, however, must travel to Lisburn for their opening game on November 22nd.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP: First round draw: Belfast Harlequins 2nds v Down; Galway v Antrim 2nds; Monkstown 2nds v Glenanne 2nds; Lisnagarvey 2nds v Pembroke 2nds; Cork C of I 2nds v Kilkeel 2nds; Cookstown 2nds v Newry 2nds; SE Wanderers v Railway Union 2nds; Corinthian 2nds v Newry 2nds; Bangor 2nds v Parkview; South Antrim 2nds v Suttonians 2nds; Three Rock Rovers 2nds v Cork Harlequin 2nds; Portadown 2nds v Annadale 2nds; Waterford v Instonians 2nds; Raphoe 2nds v Bandon; Kilkenny v Ballynahinch; North Down 2nds v Midleton or UCC 2nds.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: Saturday - Division 1: Aer Lingus v Dublin University 2.30 pm ALSAA; Corinthians v Railway Union 1.30 pm Whitechurch Park; YMCA v Monkstown 2.00 p.m. Wesley College; Glenanne v Pembroke Wanderers 2.00 pm St Mark's. Division 2: St James Gate v Avoca 12.45 pm Iveagh Grounds; Naas v Weston, 1.00 pm Scanlan Park, Kilkenny; Bray v Clontarf 2.45 pm Bray; Suttonians v Portrane tba. Sunday - Division One: Dublin University v Three Rock Rovers 12.00pm Santry. Division 2: St Brendan's v Skerries 1.30pm DCU.
MUNSTER SENIOR LEAGUE: Division One: Belvedere A v Church of Ireland B, Ballincollig, 12.30pm; UCC A v Church of Ireland A, Mardyke, 1.30pm; Harlequins B v Catholic Institute A, Farmer's Cross, 3.30pm.
