YMCA will fancy their chances

MEN'S HOCKEY:YMCA HAVE reason to believe they could take something out of their Leinster Senior League meeting with Three Rock Rovers this weekend.

Sitting second in the league table behind Glenanne, YMCA were the only team in the top seven to move upwards since last weekend’s outing. And how they moved – with an eight-goal spree, Marcus Richardson netting a hat-trick against UCD on Tuesday night.

With Three Rock Rovers slipping to fourth position, courtesy of a late equalising goal from UCD in their opening match of the season, YMCA will certainly see a tough game in front of them in Grange Road but one that could consolidate their high place in the table.

Coach Trevor Dagg and assistant Paul Fitzpatrick seem to be grooving their YM’ side nicely and might also hope that Glenanne drop something against Corinthians. That though would seem unrealistic, or from YM’s point of view optimistic since Corinthians have struggled badly to hold on to the level they had last season when they had their largely South African contingent.

Glenanne remain unbeaten in three matches, while Corinthians are stuck in eighth position. On the face it, it looks like a mismatch as Corinthians are really having a scary start and now sit second bottom of the heap along with UCD. Only Weston, still trying to find their moorings in their first season up, are below them.

The newcomers should again struggle as they travel to Rathdown for a meeting with third-placed Monkstown. The Dún Laoghaire side have also shown enough to suggest they are contenders for the league and have lost just one to Glenanne. It is difficult to see beyond three more points for the home side against the doughty Griffeen Valley visitors.

Pembroke’s away game against Fingal is not all that straight forward.

The home side will be up for a visit from the aristocrats and it won’t be all polite conversation. Pembroke sit level with Fingal on points in sixth and seventh place but arrive after a win and defeat in Europe last week, enough there to bolster confidence.

Railway’s meeting with UCD at Park Avenue is a match they have pencilled in to win, although after snatching a point UCD will be game. But Railway should be pleased with fourth place and have shown this season they are a more capable unit.

SATURDAY: Leinster Senior League, Division One – Fingal v Pembroke Wanderers, 1.30 ALSAA; Glenanne v Corinthian, 2.00 Glenanne Park; Monkstown v Weston, 1.30 Rathdown; Railway Union v UCD, 1.0 Park Avenue; Three Rock Rovers v YMCA , 2.00 Grange Road,Munster Senior League: Division One – Cork C of I B v Harlequins B 2.0 Garryduff.