HOCKEY:THE TOP five in the Leinster first division all picked up wins on Saturday, with Pembroke Wanderers and Three Rovers now tied on 15 points at the top of the table – Pembroke, though, have a game in hand.
It proved to be a goal-fest of a weekend, 34 scored in the five fixtures, Glenanne helping themselves to nine against Clontarf.
Fingal threatened to make a game of it against Pembroke at Serpentine Avenue when Paddy Gahan pulled a goal back after Alan Sothern had put the hosts 2-0 up, but further scores from Alan Giles and Gordon Elliott sealed the points, making it five wins out of five for the champions.
Rovers kept pace with Pembroke at the top by beating UCD 3-1, the students still without a point after seven games.
They did, though, make Rovers work hard for their win, going in to the break just a goal down, Sven Galjaardt and Patrick Shanahan scoring for Rovers, Rob Lynch for UCD.
South African forward Jean-Pierre de Voux clinched the win with a second-half goal.
Glenanne conceded four goals to Clontarf, like UCD still to win a point, but a hat-trick from Eddie O’Malley and two apiece from Alan Lewis, Stephen Butler and Mick McGuinness more than made up for any defensive shortcomings on the day.
Corinthian stay fourth after beating YMCA 3-1 while Monkstown, in fifth, survived a Railway Union comeback at Park Avenue to take the points, winning 5-3.
