MEN'S HOCKEY Weekend round-up: Pembroke Wanderers, in fighting off Glenanne's challenge with a 3-1 victory at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday, looked worthy of retaining the Leinster Senior League title. Yet, while they have opened up a three-point advantage, injured limbs may hinder a smooth clearance of the last three hurdles.
Pembroke's sharpest striker, Gordon Elliott, who rifled home an early lead, left the field with a damaged knee before Glenanne got some fire going. John Goulding duly earned a penalty stroke for Joe Brennan to convert to make it 1-1 at the interval.
Glenanne remained more forceful at the start of the second half but Nigel Henderson was assertive and unyielding between the posts and although promising right back Ben Grogan had to join Elliott on the bench through injury, a reshuffled home team upped the pace to penetrate the visitors' rough edges.
First, Simon Kershaw scored and then Tim Hill set up Alan Sothern to clinch the win.
Pembroke may still need to collect seven points on the run-in as Glenanne will not yet concede the issue.
Next weekend's key game is Glenanne's visit to Aer Lingus, who collapsed 5-1 to Monkstown on Saturday. The airport side are now in danger of being caught by Monkstown in the chase for the third all-Ireland berth.
Aer Lingus were three down after 25 minutes at St Andrew's as Cliff Bailey poached a brace of goals after Eoin O'Connor had registered a stunning first-minute opener. Ian Allen and Gareth Watkins added to the Monkstown tally with David Bane confined to a solitary reply.
Monkstown continued their roll with a 4-3 defeat of Railway Union in the Mills Cup quarter-finals yesterday with Watkins completing a hat-trick after his side had trailed 3-1. Dan Williams got a late winner for Corinthians against Three Rock Rovers while YMCA beat Naas 7-0.
Avoca, now virtually assured of returning to the first division, opted out of their assignment against Glenanne to be in good shape for their European indoor championship mission in Finland later this week.
Cork Harlequins II, in beating Railway Union II 3-1 on Saturday, will be favourites to win the Irish Junior Cup in Dublin on April 2nd when they take on Banbridge II, who edged out Kilkenny 1-0.
Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP
