Harlequins take the upper hand

MENS HOCKEY: As the Leinster Senior League continues to throw up unpredictable results, Munster's campaign reverted to type over the weekend as Cork Harlequins and Cork C of I faced each other in one of two pivotal games of the league.

This time Harlequins triumphed with Richard Gash and David Lombard forcing the issue for the Farmers Cross side. From both teams' point of view the game marks a high point of sorts in the league campaign as it is the only piece of seriously competitive action either side will see outside of a strong run in the Irish Senior Cup or another meeting in the Munster Senior Cup - both very possible scenarios.

Each year, however, the derby highlights just what is not right about the provincial system. While in Ulster the competitive games illustrate how consistently strong that province can be, the Munster set up is like Scottish club soccer: Celtic meeting Rangers home and away and the league is probably on the results of those games.

Munster want an all-Ireland league to allow them develop the considerable talent they have. Weekends like this remind you just why they want that change.

In Leinster Glenanne brought Aer Lingus back to earth but only just with a 3-2 win, while YMCA showed another side to their nature after a very ropey start to the championship. Their 2-0 victory over Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road represents quite a scalp for the Claremont Road outfit given that they had won only one game from their opening six starts. Now with two wins from seven games, they leap over Rovers on the table as Glenanne, Corinthians, Pembroke and Monkstown set the pace at the top.

Monkstown's five strikes against Trinity and Corinthians 4-4 draw with Pembroke Wanderers suggests a levelling of team ability is taking place.

Rovers won't be too pleased with Andrew Walker and Jason Milne's goals in YMCA's victory following quickly on from last weeks defeat at Whitechurch by Corinthians.

Clontarf once again conceded heavily, this time to Railway Union where Paul O'Brien hit a hat-trick in their 4-0 win. Railway are now mid-table.

In Division Two the league leaders UCD, who managed to hit eight goals against Bray, and second placed Avoca, who collected four goals against Portrane, had wins to keep their promotion chances alive.