HOCKEY:THREE ROCK Rovers moved five points clear at the top of the Leinster Division One standings as they squeezed past Monkstown in an early contender for game of the season at Grange Road.
Rovers made it four wins from four as Dutch import Sven Galjaardt inspired a 5-4 win in his first full appearance since recovering from injury. He scored twice and set up two others as Rovers kept their noses in front from midway through the first half.
Rovers move clear thanks to their closest rivals’ recent inactivity on the local scene, while Monkstown’s top four hopes are being undone by a defensive record that has seen 13 goals conceded in four outings.
Across Marlay Park, Corinthian felt the backlash of Glenanne’s EuroHockey League disappointments. The Glens never hit top gear but showed enough zip in their game to comfortably outdo their Whitechurch Park hosts 3-1.
All-Ireland champions Pembroke continue their menacing form with a 10-0 dismantling of Sandymount rivals Railway Union. Gordon Elliott, Justin Sherriff and Michael O’Connor all bagged braces, while Irish internationals Conor Harte, Alan Sothern and Tim Lewis, and Maurice Elliott grabbed one apiece.
Fingal fought back late on to win 3-2 in the first north Dublin derby in Division One for three years, against Clontarf.
At Alexandra College, YMCA beat UCD 2-1, with Australian Jacob Webber netting twice.
** HERMES and Loreto, last year’s Irish Hockey League finalists, were both stung on home turf yesterday. Claire McMahon of Pegasus slid the ball home in the 19th minute against the run of play for the only goal of the game against Hermes at UCD, while Cathy McKean salvaged a late draw and two points for Loreto against Old Alex.
Audrey O’Flynn’s hat-trick of dragged flicks helped UCC to a 4-0 thrashing of Randalstown in Pool B, while in Pool A. Railway Union had an impressive 4-1 win over Ards.
