Pembroke begin run-in to long awaited title

HOCKEY: Five points clear at the top of the Leinster first division table Pembroke Wanderers go into the final month of the league season with their sights set on the club's first title since 1975, when, alarmingly, most of their current squad weren't even born.

That year Pembroke won their sixth league title in a row but since then they have lost out to their rivals, chiefly Old Alexandra, Muckross, Hermes and Loreto, who have dominated the league between them in that spell.

Now, though, Pembroke are just four games away from bridging that gap, starting with tomorrow's fixture against bottom club Genesis at Belfield. After that, however, their run-in couldn't be more testing, with away games against the three teams pursuing them - Loreto, Hermes and Railway Union, all of whom are on 29 points.

Hermes must avoid dropping points to UCD, as Loreto did last weekend, when they meet at Booterstown, the same venue for the game between Loreto and Old Alexandra.

In Munster, Church of Ireland lead Cork Harlequins by three points but the long-time champions, who play Belvedere tomorrow, have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

C of I play fourth-placed Catholic Institute tomorrow in their penultimate league fixture. Their final opponents? Cork Harlequins.

TOMORROW

Leinster League:Division One: Three Rock v Trinity, Grange Road, 11.0; Railway Union v Corinthian, Sandymount, 12.30; Hermes v UCD, Booterstown, 1.0; Genesis v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 2.30; Old Alexandra v Loreto, Booterstown, 4.0.

Munster League:Division One: Church of Ireland v Catholic Institute, Garryduff, 1.30; Univ of Limerick v Ashton, Univ of Limerick, 1.0; Belvedere v Cork Harlequins, Ballincollig, 1.30; Bandon v UCC, Bandon, 2.0.

Irish Junior Cup:Semi-finals: Glenanne v Pembroke Wanderers II, Tallaght, 3.0; Railway Union II v Randalstown II, Park Avenue, 3.0.