Unbeaten Banbridge targeting Irish Hockey League glory

Banbridge are two wins away from completing a perfect season as they look to add the Irish Hockey League title to the Irish Senior Cup they won afortnight ago as well an Ulster treble.

They have yet to lose in any competition this season andthey will be confident of reaching Sunday’s final of the IHL as they meetPembroke, a side they beat 4-0 in the Senior Cup, in tomorrow’s semi-final at3pm.

Their opposition will hope that goalkeeper Mark Ingram willbe back in the mix after being stretchered off the last time the two clubs metwith a head injury.

The other semi-final pits reigning champions Monkstownagainst Three Rock Rovers in a repeat of last year’s battle at the same stage.

Town shaded that one in extra time and will be bouyed by thereturn of Swiss star Fabian Wullschleger after international duty at the indoorWorld Cupnd the World League.

It looks set to be the final season of the IHL in thiscurrent format, meanwhile, as next year’s expanded version of the event took abig step closer to being realised this week.

Ulster clubs Lisnagarvey, Banbridge, Annadale and Cookstownhave all accepted invitations to the expanded version of the competition.

A recent Ulster Hockey special general meeting had voted forthe province not to support the new season-long league that will see the topclubs move out of the provincial leagues. Despite this, all four clubs haveaccepted the IHA’s invitation in “good faith”.

Monkstown, Glenanne, Pembroke, Three Rock Rovers and Cork Cof I are the other clubs to have accepted invitations to the new league while the tenth spot will go to UCC, Railway Union or Instonians.

Fixtures

Men's Irish Hockey League (all at Grange Road) Semi-finals(Saturday): Banbridge vs Pembroke, 3pm; Monkstown vs Three Rock Rovers, 5pm

Final (Sunday): 4pm

Wildcardplayoffs Today: Railway Union vs Lisnagarvey, 7.30pm

Saturday:Instonians vs UCC, 1.15pm Sunday:UCC vs Railway Union, 1pm