Pembroke give impressive display

MENS HOCKEY: A hierarchy of sorts was re-established. Perhaps it had never changed much anyway but Glenanne, Pembroke, Corinthians and Aer Lingus continue to lord over the top of the Leinster Senior league courtesy of wins for all four clubs over the weekend.

Pembroke's victory over Three Rock Rovers was the most impressive of the lot as Glenanne, who lead the title race, hit two strikes to no reply against Clontarf in a predictable outcome between top and bottom placed clubs.

Pembroke's three goals against Rovers was a fine display of strength and despite Rovers defending well for large tracts of the first three quarters of the game, Pembroke ultimately broke through to score what was an important win for them.

Rovers were missing a few principal characters, notably Charlie Carroll and Gavin Burke in midfield and Christian Judd up front but that weakness in the opposition won't dampen the Pembroke cheer and nor should it as they worked a couple of very fine goals with two of their Irish players to the fore.

Gordon Elliott, with three goals last week added another to his growing collection as well as setting up the strike for the increasingly impressive Alan Sothern, while C of I recruit John Jermyn also found his name on the scoresheet from Pembroke's first short corner.

Rovers face another tough match next week against the side setting the pace at the top, Glenanne. For the Tallaght team it was Joe Brennan and Alan Goulding with a goal either side of the break against Clontarf that ensured their perfect record from four the games played. Clontarf sit with one point, close to the bottom but also, importantly, one point ahead of Trinity, who lost 4-2 to Corinthians.

The four goals put Corinthians into third place on the league table and that will be of some satisfaction. But with eight goals conceded so far, Corinthians won't be overly proud of the collective defensive record.

It is not the sort of statistic in that area that a top-three side would prefer to have.

In fourth place Aer Lingus came through against Railway Union, where Paul O'Brien's hat-trick was just one goal short of what was required for the Park Avenue side, while YMCA and Monkstown shared the points in a 1-1 draw.