MEN'S HOCKEY: Corinthians, in defeating Monkstown 3-1 on Saturday, have clinched third place in the Leinster Senior League and thus complete the line-up for the all-Ireland quarter-final play-offs in which they join Three Rock Rovers, Glenanne, Cork C of I, Harlequins, Annadale, Lisnagarvey and Instonians.
It is perhaps an irony that Stephen Butler and Justin Sherriff, leading figures for Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers, the two teams who have faded somewhat this season after dominating Leinster affairs in recent years, are keeping Antwerp Dragons in the running for the Belgian Championship.
Yesterday, with Butler at centre-back and Sherriff notching a goal, they gained a 3-1 win over the league leaders and local rivals, Royal Antwerp.
As regards the Leinster title, Glenanne - thanks to Graham Shaw's strike against Aer Lingus - can keep their hopes alive by a thread if they beat Monkstown in midweek (away), but, even still, Three Rock would need only a point from their home fixture against Railway Union next Saturday to be crowned champions.
There will have to be a play-off, though, to decide the laurels in Munster as a result of Karl Burns' late winner for Cork C of I to force Harlequins into another challenge. It may be a welcome bit of extra match practice for Harlequins in view of the Irish Senior Cup final against Lisnagarvey on April 5th.
Meanwhile, Lisnagarvey II, fielding the hugely accomplished quartet of Alan Dowd, Robbie Taylor, Daniel Clarke and Peter Richardson, carried off the Junior Cup at Belfield with a 5-0 victory over youthful Kilkenny, who were appearing in the final for the first time.
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