Filgas leaves Leinster

Men's Hockey:  The post of Leinster senior coach is now vacant following the resignation of former international Simon Filgas. The coach of Three Rock Rovers has stepped down because of other commitments, notably to Rovers, and for personal reasons.

"I couldn't give both a decent crack of the whip and wouldn't have had time to go around and look at other candidates who might have been part of a Leinster squad. It would not have been fair to Leinster to do the job and not give it my full attention," said Filgas.

The Interprovincial Championships are scheduled to take place next month, although there is some doubt about a full commitment from the three main provinces. Last year, Munster, without a coach and arguing that the competition was very expensive for little gain, initially opted out but came back at the last moment.

Neatly, Rovers this weekend face the club Filgas formerly coached, Pembroke Wanderers, in the top Leinster League meeting of the weekend. After coming back from a 3-1 deficit at half-time against Aer Lingus last weekend, Rovers will face last season's league champions with some confidence.

"We were playing well last week but found ourselves 3-1 down. We just tightened up in a few areas and continued playing the way we were and it worked for us," said Filgas.

Pembroke come into the match having hit six against Clontarf last week, a scoreline that is bound to have buoyed the team but one that hardly constitutes a battle-hardening run-in to what is expected to be a tough fixture, even on home turf at Serpentine Avenue.

League leaders Glenanne face Clontarf in the newly promoted club's second tough meeting in successive weeks, after Pembroke last Saturday. There has been little shown so far to suggest that Clontarf have adjusted enough to cause Glenanne too many problems, but the club have expected as much. Their aim, like that of Trinity, is to survive in the top flight.

Elsewhere, Monkstown will see their meeting against YMCA as a chance to earn some points. Monkstown travel to Claremont Road, which will give YMCA clear home advantage, but they haven't yet been impressive enough to go into this with any certainty.

Saturday - Leinster Senior League - Division One: Aer Lingus v Railway Union, 1:30, ALSAA; YMCA v Monkstown, 12:30, Claremont Rd; Corinthians v Dublin University, 12:30, Whitechurch Park; Glenanne v Clontarf, 2.30, St Mark's; Pembroke Wanderers v TRR, 2.0, Serpentine Ave. Division Two: UCD v Naas, 1:15, UCD; Bray v St Brendan's/PP, 1.30, Loreto Bray; Weston v Skerries, 3.45, King's Hospital; Portrane v Avoca postponed; St James' Gate v Suttonians, 2.0, Iveagh Grounds.

Munster Senior League: Harlequins I v Catholic Institute I, Harlequin Park, 1.0; Harlequins 2nd v Church of Ireland I, Garryduff, noon; Bandon I v UCC I, Bandon, 2.30.

Sunday - Munster Senior League: Harlequins I v UCC I, Mardyke, 12.30; Harlequins II v Bandon I, Harlequins, 2.30; Catholic Institute I v Church of Ireland B, Rosbrien, 12.30; Belvedere I v Church of Ireland A, Belvedere, 3.0.