Fingal do it the hard way again

HOCKEY: JUST LAST week Fingal co-coach John McInerney remarked on his side's "habit of coming from behind" after a string of comebacks in the league had lifted them to the top of the table.

He expressed the wish that they'd one day be "way out ahead" in a game, instead of testing nerves, but they were up to their old tricks on Saturday, fighting back from a goal down to take the points against YMCA.

Richard Miles put the visitors a goal up after just eight minutes but Adrian Sweeney levelled for Fingal before the break, with Mick McGuinness completing the comeback midway through the second half.

Fingal, then, retain their lead in the table, but Three Rock Rovers, a point behind with a game in hand, kept in touch with a hard-earned 2-1 win over Corinthian, a goal in each half from Peter Blakeney giving them the points.

Glenanne and Pembroke Wanderers, in third and fourth place, also had wins on Saturday but with varying degrees of comfort.

An Alan Sothern hat-trick helped ease Pembroke to a 4-1 victory over Railway Union but an outstanding display by UCD goalkeeper Stephen O'Keeffe made it a frustrating afternoon for Glenanne, who were unable to add to the sixth-minute goal scored by Stephen Butler. It proved enough, however.

Monkstown, meanwhile, moved up to fifth in the table with a 4-0 victory over Kilkenny.