Game needs to seek limelight

How fast will hockey continue to develop? How far away is a European superleague or a final at Belfield between Munster and Amsterdam? One hopes that the clubs (rather than provinces) will remain the heart of the game.

One wonders, though, if hockey is going through too sheltered an existence - hiding its light under a bushel. Should there be a greater awareness of communication, of marketing? For example, should news of a skirmish be covered up, almost unconsciously, or is it healthy that controversial snippets come only gradually to the surface, if at all?

Stimulation can be no harm. There also seems to be a reluctance to release the composition of a provincial squad once it has been selected. It tends to be a fait accompli, published on the eve of competition, rather than being announced in time for analysis by interested parties.

Equally, however, there are positive moves. A welcome effort in Leinster is that, where possible, a Senior League match of substance on Saturday is staged at a sociable venue, in mid-afternoon (rather than lunch-time), to bring the day to a climax. Tomorrow, it's Three Rock Rovers v Corinthians at Grange Road. The sides drew 0-0 earlier in the season but there is bound to be more life on this occasion with Corinthians, particularly, chasing all-Ireland points.

The game between Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne will also be disputed with much vigour at Serpentine Avenue (if perhaps overshadowed by events at Lansdowne Road). It was 3-2 to Pembroke when the sides met in Tallaght and it would appear that Glenanne can make it just as close this time, if taking no more than a point from the leaders.

Avoca, though still much in the reckoning on all fronts, are unlikely to beat Monkstown as comfortably as they did (3-0) in the autumn in the Dun Laoghaire derby at Rathdown.

Railway Union, after their two trips to the airport with little dividend, will be pleased to welcome Aer Lingus, who will be able to shower in their new £300,000 state-of-the art dressingrooms which were in the limelight in the political arena earlier this week. Kilkenny would also be welcome, even for a friendly.

Tomorrow, Kilkenny will be at full strength for the visit of YMCA who provided the southeasterners with their only victory (2-0) in October. Enigmatic YM may again be vulnerable if the likes of Ken Hovenden, Conor Harrington and Neville Kavanagh are firing on all cylinders.

In Ulster - with surprisingly no postponements - there are two key top-of-the-table clashes, involving Lisnagarvey at home to Annadale and Cliftonville taking on Banbridge at Olympia.