The Glens title credentials will be put to the test twice this weekend with home ties against fellow IHL teams Three Rock and Fingal. They welcome back Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw after they skipped the lively Neville Cup tie with Railway in which Shane O'Donoghue starred with his third and fourth goals in the competition.
Rovers, meanwhile, return to a more recognised line-up with Phelie Maguire making the trip back from Belgium for what will prove a key game. Last season, the two ties with Glenanne proved pivotal for the side's confidence but they face a Glenanne finding form in recent weeks, setting up what should be a cracker.
In the last few minutes, Three Rock have been drawn to play KHC Leuven in the KO16 round of the EuroHockey League on April 11 - facing an instant rematch with one of the side's they drew with in Lille last month.
It represents a kind draw as Rovers miss out on Dutch giants Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Bloemendaal as well as Spanish sides Egara and Polo. The latter, though, are a potential quarter-final opponent. The Barcelona-side play one of the ties of the round against Reading while Egara against Club an der Alster is another eye-catching match-up.
Back in Dublin, Pembroke host Monkstown in another top-table battle as second plays third. Last season, the Town came away with two 4-1 defeats but pushed Pembroke hard in the first half and, had their corner, functioned might have caused the ISC winners more serious problems. Both like to play a fairly expansive game so goals should be in the offing.
At the bottom, UCD's loss to Railway means they have to pick up points against the likes of Corinthian if they can hope to escape the drop. The students are pointless at home while Corinthian have got nothing on their travels. Something has to give but if Corinthian can get some corners, they would expect to have the measure of the tie.
YM will hope their youngsters like Rob Whelan and Luke Chadwick can recreate some of their form from the Neville Cup win against Kilkenny to 
leapfrog the Cats out of the playoff spot while Fingal play host to Railway at ALSAA.
16 comments:
Could see fingal having difficulty breaking down railway
fingal so win by 4. as long as the bainers are playing.
mutual supporter
Railway to have 10 points by Saturday evening and will have turned the relegation battle into a three horse race.
i heard brennen and shaw are out injured???anyone confirm this?
railway are always a tough side to play, i dont see much chance of fingal putting four past them....but i expect fingal to struggle over the line. its still a possible upset though
I also heard Brennan and Shaw are injured. Is this correct?
Brenann is out, he is working. Shaw has a niggle but should be ok...
i see Railway giving Fingal a very tough match.Possibly Railway coming away with at least 1 point maybe all 3.
Alot of chirp from Railway on the back of a win against the might of UCD. Alot of chirp.
are chc corners good???
Railway should beat Fingal, nothing special about them at all.
depends who's taking them! doherty can flick a ball quite well, pelow has scored a few this season too...
Fingal to put 6 past railway! sweeney to get three and db + mcguinness with the rest! - Railway Supporter!!
rovers vs leuven!!!! WHAT?! from on onlooker view, that looks like a great draw for three rock! each will know each other but even more is that rovers will know they have a good chance to get to the next round!!(could have got amsterdam or someone and been destroyed!)
that would definitely get ireland enough ranking points for two teams next season.
irish hockey on the way up!
tom not so
id say ur a Railway supporter
Railway to win against Fingal tomorrow.will be a hard faught game but I think Railway will edge it in the end.
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