Monkstown
will want to make amends for last weekend when they allowed Ulster’s Lisnagarvey take the top place on the EY Hockey League table.
It was a tribute to the grounds around the country that all of the matches survived last week’s weather but with Monkstown falling to a surprise 3-2 defeat to Glenanne, it meant Lisnagarvey moved into pole position with six wins from seven so far.
The Dublin side, who have won the championship for the last three seasons and are looking for four in a row, may look at sharpening up their set piece as they face Banbridge at home on Saturday.
Lee Cole converted Monkstown's eighth corner against Glenanne to take the score to 3-2 but that was in the dying seconds with no time left to change the final result.
Monkstown now face a Banbridge side buoyed up by their fourth win of the season last week against Cookstown. Ireland's Eugene Magee scored the only goal of the game with a roofed set piece midway through the second half to put Bandridge into third place on the table.
The league leaders, ’Garvey, are also at home to Three Rock Rovers, who have moved into the top four. They won last week in dramatic fashion, beating Cork C of I 4-3 despite John Jermyn claiming his third hat trick of the season.
Pembroke, who are third from the bottom of the table face Glenanne in Serpentine Avenue. They will do so while Ireland's Alan Sothern undergoes return to play protocols after being injured at a penalty corner in the 53 minute of last week's game against Railway Union.
The Irish striker received treatment on the pitch before an ambulance took him to hospital amid concerns over his head/neck. Sothern scored Pembroke’s only goal in the 1-1 draw, Mark English claiming Railway’s goal.
