Non stop hockey action as teams play catch-up

With the milder weather thankfully continuing it’s been non-stop down in Pembroke with teams lining out mid-week and over double weekends to catch up on the recently interrupted schedule.
Another busy few days of hockey ahead to look forward to this weekend kicks off with the Ladies 2nds last 16 Irish Junior Cup tie at home to Loreto Saturday afternoon at 2.15pm. Mick O’Connor’s side caused the upset of the round 3 weeks ago, coming away from the Antrim Forum with a golden goal win over holders Randalstown. Loreto this time will prove to be an equally tough opponent and the tie will be a closely fought affair. At the same time the Ladies 1sts play Glenanne away in the league, while the Ladies 4ths have the chance to go top of their league if they can beat Clontarf II’s, 3.45pm at home on Saturday.

On the Men’s side, Brendon Carolan’s men travel north to play Instonians on Sunday in the Irish Hockey League. Pembroke sit two points clear in Pool B and will be looking to maintain this gap over close rivals Monkstown who host Banbridge on Saturday. For those not travelling north the Men’s 2nds make the short trip up to Whitechurch on Sunday for their Railway Cup encounter against Corinthians, the lads beating UCD 12-0 in the last round. The tie is all the more interesting – a win could potentially see an all Pembroke 2nds and 3rds Quarter Final.

Last weekend Alan Giles crafted a winner in the last ten minutes of normal time to see the Men’s 1sts beat TRR 3-2 and go through to the next round of the Leinster Senior Cup. The 2nds laboured to a 3-0 victory away to a weak Trinity seconds in the league to keep them in contention for this division’s title. Their main rivals are Monkstown who are the current Leinster Seconds League, Irish Junior Cup and Railway Cup holders, competitions that the seconds are still in contention for at this stage of this 2010/2011 season. The 6ths played well to beat YMCA 2-0 away from home to keep up their solid league performance.

On the disappointing side, the Men’s 4ths, even though they are second in their league lost convincingly to Avoca seconds and the fifths unfortunately lost by a goal in five to a strong YMCA fifth eleven side to both be knocked out of the very competitive Intermediate Cup. The 7ths also lost in the Minor Cup away to Glennane.

Leinster Cup wise for the Ladies, the 1sts, 3rds, 6ths, 7ths and 8ths are all still involved in the latter stages of the knock outs. Katherine Duff’s Ladies 1st’s beat Old Alex 2-1 last weekend to set up a semi final tie later this month, Anna O Neill getting the silver goal while the Ladies 3rds have a home tie against Avoca to look forward to after Katie England got the winner to take them passed Botanic in the last round. The Ladies 7ths have also progressed to the semi final stage, following back to back 6-1 wins in the Cup over Botanic and UCD. Gill Crinnion and Clodagh Rigby in rich scoring form for Caoimhe Cruise and Sarah Large’s charges in both Cup and League. Meanwhile the 8ths will face a tough trip away to either Newbridge or Navan in the Qtr Finals on Sunday 13th, where Captain Olwen Scally will hope good league form can continue..
Best of Luck to all this weekend and make sure you get down to Pembroke to support your Club!