ROUND TWO of the Irish Hockey League takes place this weekend and while it might be much too early in the competition for the latest games to prove decisive there are critical fixtures in both groups, not least the clash of Loreto and Pegasus in Pool A.
While Loreto would have been satisfied to have come away from Belfast Harlequins with a victory in the opening round of matches they missed out on a bonus point, unlike Pegasus and Hermes whose 5-2 and 3-0 wins over Catholic Institute and UCC, respectively, put them a point clear of the inaugural IHL winners.
To boost their hopes, then, of avoiding last year’s fate, when they missed out on a place in the semi-finals by finishing behind Hermes and Pegasus in their pool, Loreto could do with a big performance against the Ulster champions at Beaufort tomorrow.
Institute host their first IHL game at Rosbrien tomorrow, Hermes their opponents, and they should be in confident form after their recent victory over Cork Harlequins in the Munster League. They put up an encouraging show too on their IHL debut in Belfast last month, only trailing Pegasus by a goal until the final quarter. UCC will hope home advantage can help them get off the mark against Belfast Harlequins.
The match of the weekend in Pool B should be the meeting of Railway Union and UCD at Park Avenue, both sides winning all their league games to date (although Railway, of course, were docked points for a registration offence). Railway opened their campaign with a 7-2 defeat of Cork Harlequins, while the students had a narrower triumph over Ballymoney, winning 2-1. Between them in the table are Armagh who are away to Ballymoney tomorrow. Ards and Harlequins complete the line-up of matches, both sides looking for their first points.
FIXTURES:Irish Hockey League, Pool A, Tomorrow: UCC v Belfast Harlequins, The Mardyke, 12.0; Catholic Institute v Hermes, Rosbrien, 2.0. Sunday: Loreto v Pegasus, Beaufort, 3.0. Pool B, Tomorrow: Ballymoney v Armagh, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Railway Union v UCD, Park Avenue, 5.0. Sunday: Ards v Cork Harlequins, NICS, 12.0.
Leinster League, Division One Tomorrow: Trinity v Corinthian, Santry, 11.30; Old Alexandra v Pembroke Wanderers, Milltown, 1.15. Sunday: Bray v Glenanne, Loreto Bray, 3.30.
