YMCA look to continue good form in the IHL

MEN'S HOCKEY:THE FOURTH round of the Irish Hockey League (IHL) kicks in this week for some catch-up following the weeks around Christmas that were lost to the snow. The five top Leinster teams are all in action, with just YMCA and Corinthians playing at home.

Trevor Dagg’s YMCA side meet Instonians in Alexandra College and should go into the game with expectations high. The Belfast visitors have lost two and drawn one of their IHL matches so far, while YMCA have won two of their previous three games and sit third in the Pool B table.

Given the relative quality of the sides, though, things can change dramatically and Instonians will arrive knowing a good win could propel them up the table if other results fall their way. But there is just one more round after this weekend so any moves that need to be made must be done now.

Pembroke, who travel to Banbridge, are the only club in Pool B to have won all three games. None of the teams in Pool A have been able to do that.

Monkstown, in second place in Pool B, will need a win in Cork and a few goals to keep their noses in front of third-placed YMCA. Both teams are on eight points, chasing Pembroke’s 10, and just a tiny margin of goal difference separates the chasing sides.

In Pool A three teams are chasing two places. Lisnagarvey lead on nine points, with Corinthians in second place on nine points and Glenanne third on eight points. The way things are shaping up, both sides have a strong chance of emerging from the weekend with something to show, although home advantage clearly helps Corinthians.

Glenanne face bottom-placed Belfast side Annadale, who are out of the running with two points from three games. Glenanne are playing for a place in the play-offs and Annadale for pride.

C of I’s visit to Whitechurch Park is similarly balanced. The Cork side are out of the running and Corinthians must assume Glenanne will score goals and win their match. In essence that’s what they must do too. John Jermyn and his set-piece excellence for C of I represents an obvious threat to the Dublin team’s hopes.

FIXTURES – Saturday– Irish Hockey League – Pool A: Corinthians v C of I, Whitechurch Park, 2.30; Cookstown v Lisnagarvey, Coolnafranky, 2.30; Annadale v Glenanne, Lough Moss, 1pm. Pool B: Banbridge v Pembroke, Havelock Park 4pm; Cork Harlequins v Monkstown, Farmers Cross, 1pm; YMCA v Instonians, Alexandra College, 3pm. Leinster Senior League – Division One: Weston v TRR, Griffeen Valley, 3pm; Railway Union v UCD, Park Avenue 1pm.