Spotlight falls on Hermes and Pembroke

HOCKEY: After a break the last two weekends for the senior interprovincial tournament and the first round of the Irish Senior Cup eight Leinster first division clubs get back in to league action tomorrow, with only Old Alexandra and Trinity off duty.

Alexandra went top of the table with a 6-0 win over Clontarf last week, while Railway Union were surprisingly held to a scoreless draw by Trinity - Railway will hope UCD's intervarsity exertions this week will give them the advantage when the teams meet on Sunday.

Before then the game of the weekend pairs Hermes and Pembroke Wanderers, joint third on eight points, at Booterstown, with both teams having unbeaten records to defend. Loreto, too, have yet to lose in the league this season and will look to extend that run against Corinthian at Beaufort. Still seeking their first win of the campaign are the bottom two, Clontarf and Three Rock, who meet tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the news that new national coach Gene Muller is inviting players to nominate themselves, or have their names put forward by their clubs, for a trial for the senior Irish team has generated a positive response, not least from "smaller" clubs who might have felt their players were overlooked in the past.

Muller adopted the same policy when he coached the Canadian men's team. Players must first register with the Irish Hockey Association before attending the trial, which will be separate from the Irish squad's sessions, in Dublin next month.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One - Tomorrow: Clontarf v Three Rock, Clontarf, 10.30; Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Booterstown, 12.0; Loreto v Corinthian, Beaufort, 12.45. Sunday: Railway Union v UCD, Park Avenue, 2.30. Division Two: Railway Union II v Loreto II, Park Avenue, 4.0.

ESB IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Second round - Tomorrow: Wexford v Catholic Institute II, Kilkenny College, 12.0; Kilkeel v Pegasus II, Macauley Park, 1.0; Belfast Harlequins v Church of Ireland II, Deramore, 1.0; Lurgan II v Yeats County, Craigavon Leisure Centre, 1.0; Old Alexandra II v Kilkenny, Milltown 1.30; Cork Harlequins II v Annadale, Farmers Cross, 1.30; Bray v Randalstown II, Bray, 1.45; Hermes II v Newbridge, Booterstown, 2.0; Greenfields v Fermoy, Mervue, 2.0; Loreto II v Larne, Beaufort, 2.15; Genesis v Muckross, Belfield, 2.30; Ards II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.30; Ashton II v Glenanne, Ashton School, 2.30; Armagh II v Banbridge, Ardmore, 2.30; Railway Union II v Our Lady's, Sandymount, 3.15.