Glenanne scrape through to last 16

HOCKEY:GLENANNE WON through to the last 16 of the Men's Euro Hockey League in Spain yesterday, German side Mannheimer's 5-1 victory over Poland's Grunwald Poznan in pool G ensuring the Leinster club would join Pembroke Wanderers in next year's knock-out phase of the competition.

After picking up a bonus point from their 2-1 defeat to Mannheimer on Friday, Glenanne drew 2-2 with the Polish champions on Saturday morning. They led twice in the game, through Gary Shaw in the first quarter and Michael McGuinness in the third, but Poznan pegged them back, getting their second equaliser 10 minutes from time.

That result left the Poles needing to avoid a defeat by more than a goal when they met Mannheimer yesterday if they were to take the second qualifying spot in the pool, but the Germans were much too strong, running out 5-1 winners. Glenanne, then, finished a point clear of Poznan, who were seeded above them.

Back home YMCA took advantage of Glenanne’s absence from Leinster League duty by taking over at the top of Division One with a 5-0 defeat of Fingal. Four of their goals, two of them scored by Jamie Tobin, came in the second half, the result putting YMCA two points clear at the top of the table.

Pembroke survived a fightback from Monkstown to hold out for a 3-2 win on Saturday, lifting them to third. The defending champions had led 3-0 at half-time, but two Gareth Watkins goals, the second with 10 minutes still to play, made for an uncomfortable finish to the game for the hosts.

Peter Blakeney’s late penalty corner rescued a point for Three Rock Rovers from their game against Railway Union, while Weston have still to get off the mark after losing 3-0 to Corinthian.

LEINSTER LEAGUE – Division One:

YMCA 5 (J Tobin 2, S Walker, A Walker, M Richardson), Fingal 0; Three Rock Rovers 2 (P Blakeney 2), Railway Union 2 (M English, P Yates); Pembroke Wanderers 3 (A Giles, B Panther, M Elliott), Monkstown 2 (G Watkins 2); Weston 0, Corinthian 3 (G Holmes, H Micks, D Carson).