MEN'S HOCKEY: Three Rock Rovers will as good as secure the Leinster Senior League title this weekend if they can beat chasing side Glenanne in Tallaght. They are currently nine points ahead on the table, although Glenanne have two games in hand.
But even that may not be enough. A win would put Rovers 12 points ahead and into an almost unassailable position with just three matches remaining.
A run-in against Avoca, UCD and Railway Union is also a soft finish for Rovers, who, even if they slip up on Saturday, would hope to have the title secured before their final match.
Rovers face Glenanne without midfielder Phelim Maguire, who damaged cruciate ligaments in a recent Leinster panel session.
Also missing are Peter Blackeney and Andy McConnell, both of whom are on under-18 duty with Leinster in Belfast.
And the Tallaght pitch has not been kind to Rovers in recent years and Glenanne have been the only team to beat them this season, so the outcome is far from certain.
The Avoca side travelled to the European Indoor C Championships in Brussels yesterday. Coming off a season where they, along with Railway Union, have won all their games, the side go to Belgium with a few new faces.
Former international, Nigel Kingston, will not play a further part this season because of injury.
Trevor Dagg, will also miss the competition due to his Leinster under-18 coaching commitments. However, a number of new recruits should strengthen the side.
Crawford Deane, Greg Johnson (Milton Keynes and South Africa), UCD's Stephen Stewart and Johnathan Bredin are all on board for their first indoor season, while regular campaigner Stephen Mitchell will also travel from Milton Keynes.
Avoca have a difficult start with three matches on Friday against Finland's Hockey team '85, Romania's CSS Odorheiu Secuiesc and Holland's Oranje Zwart before facing Slovakia's SK Senlavice on Saturday.
FRIDAY
Interprovincial Series (QUB): 10.00, U16 Ulster v Munster; 12.00, U18 Ulster v Munster; 14.00, U16 Leinster v Munster; 16.00, U18 Leinster v Munster.
SATURDAY
Leinster Senior League - Division 1: Glenanne v Three Rock Rovers, 1.30, St Marks; Pembroke Wanderers v Aer Lingus, 12.00, Serpentine Ave; Railway Union v Monkstown, 2.30, Park Avenue; UCD v Corinthians, 2.30, Belfield. Division 2: St Brendan's v Bray, 3.00, Phoenix Park; Naas v Skerries, 3.00, Naas; Clontarf v Weston, 1.30, DCU; Suttonians v Dublin University; St James Gate v Portrane.
Interprovincial Series (QUB) 10.00, U16 Ulster v Leinster; 12.00, U18 Ulster v Leinster; 14.00, U16 Ulster v Munster; 16.00, U18 Ulster v Munster.
SUNDAY
Leinster Senior Cup - semi-Finals (both Grange Road): Corinthians v Pembroke Wanderers, 2:45; Railway Union v Glenanne, 4:30.
Interprovincial Series (QUB): 9.30, U16 Leinster v Munster; 11.15, U18 Leinster v Munster; 13.30; U16 Ulster v Leinster; 15.15, U18 Ulster v Leinster.
