Pembroke in control

HOCKEY:Pembroke go into the Christmas period with a comfortable lead at the head of the Leinster Senior League after an expected run of results over the weekend. The Serpentine Avenue side put seven goals past Trinity to maintain their two-point lead over second-placed Glenanne, who also came away from the weekend with a bag full of goals in Claremont Road.

The two ace marksmen, Alan Sothern and Justin Sherriff, were again on target for Pembroke, the teenager Sothern with a hat-trick and international striker Sherriff with two in their seven goal win over the students.

Paddy Conlon and Alan Giles grabbed the other two goals.

Glenanne followed up on their midweek Neville Cup win by hitting four against YMCA with Irish midfielder, Stephen Butler, netting two of those. Those points keep Glenanne trailing Pembroke by only two with the Tallaght side holding a game in hand.

Three Rock Rovers wavered a little in their challenge for honours. While the Grange Road side are still in touch with the leaders, they dropped points against Monkstown at Rathdown.

Rovers were asked to come from a goal down before taking a 2-1 lead, with Peter McConnell and Gavin Burke on target for the visitors. Not to be outdone, Monkstown equalised in the final quarter through Brian Groves to snatch a share of the spoils.

Ireland have been given a tough draw in next August's European Championships in Manchester. They face Holland, Spain and France in their pool matches beginning with the Spanish on August 19th and then Holland on August 21st.

Dave Passmore's side finish the pool games with a final match against France on August 22nd. The other pool comprises England, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.