Thursday, January 15, 2009

Men's Division One preview

League leaders Glenanne face another tricky test as they travel out to Rathdown to take on Monkstown. Added intrigue comes from the bizarre situation where the Town briefly played with 12 men on a controversial day of numerous sin-binnings.

The imperious form of Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw has seen the Glens make the best start to 2009 of any Leinster club with youngster Shane O'Donoghue emerging. He comes up against his father, Rory, who dons the Monkstown coaching gear.

Arul Anthoni missed last week's impressive win in the opposite dug-out due to illness but, should be out again, Frank Byrne steps in - a role he has become accustomed to with Anthoni's dual role with Old Alex. He will not have to worry just yet about a Mills Cup quarter-final.

A tie with either Dublin Uni or Corinthian has yet to decided due to an appeal over a registration issue.

Pembroke will probably bring Alan Sothern and Tim Lewis back in for the visit of Fingal whose squad has been bolstered since the New Year by the return of former Leinster player Derek O'Gorman and Keith Crawford after a brief stint in America.

David Bane is nearing a return, too, but Saturday may come a little too soon. For the 'Broke, it is the first of three games in four days as they finally get their cup game with Skerries played on Sunday while UCD come visiting on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere, Three Rock visit Kilkenny for the first of two trips this week - the other being their Irish Senior Cup tie - with Mitch Darling likely to be included. Kyle Good rests due to Irish U-18 trials on Sunday while Gavin Bourke misses a trip to his hometown as he and David Storey have lengthy spells on the sidelines ahead of them.

Rovers play probably the pick of the quarter-finals against Monkstown on Tuesday night.

Corinthian, meanwhile, could take advantage of slips for either the Town or Fingal and blow the IHL race wide open with a home win over Railway Union. The Park Avenue side, though, were victors 1-0 last time the sides met and have shown plenty of appetite for the fight while Paul O'Brien still rattles in the goals.

Finally, UCD will need to win games such as this weekend's battle with YMCA if they are to have any chance of avoiding a bottom-two placing. A win for Trevor Dagg's side would see them six clear of Kilkenny and nine from the students, probably more than enough to ensure safety.

Jacob Webber could return for Sunday's cup match after managing to serve a three-game internal ban within seven days. Avoca are their reward for their silver-goal victory over Fingal last week.

Division 1(Saturday):
Kilkenny vs Three Rock Rovers, 2.30pm, Kilkenny College; Corinthian vs Railway Union, 1.15pm, Whitechurch Park; Monkstown vs Glenanne, 1pm, Rathdown; Pembroke Wanderers vs Fingal, 2.30pm, Serpentine Ave; UCD vs YMCA, 12.15pm, Belfield
(Tuesday) Pembroke Wanderers vs UCD, 7.15pm, Serpentine Avenue

Mills Cup (Sunday)
Round Two: Skerries vs Pembroke Wanderers, 2pm, Skerries
Quarter-final: Avoca vs YMCA, Newpark
(Tuesday) Three Rock Rovers vs Monkstown, 7.45pm, Grange Road

Glenanne vs Corinthian or Dublin University - postponed until January 25

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

alot of crucial games this weekend if Monkstown or Fingal get anything from their games it will be a real boost to their IHL ambitions and have a major effect on the race for the title

Anonymous said...

Predictions:

Kilkenny vs Three Rock Rovers

2-4

Corinthian vs Railway Union

5-3

Monkstown vs Glenanne

3-2

Pembroke Wanderers vs Fingal

1-1

UCD vs YMCA

1-3

Anonymous said...

Predictions:

KK vs TRR

1 - 5

CHC vs RU

6 - 2

Monk vs Glens

2 - 3

PWHC vs Fingal

3 - 1

UCD vs YM

1 - 4

Anonymous said...

Yeah, reckon 2nd lot of predictions seem more realistic. Would be surprised if Town or Fingal get anything out of their respective games games this weekend. Will make it very interesting for 4th & 5th spot. Town on 17pts, Fingal and Corinthians both on 15pts all having played 12 games, if results go this way...

Anonymous said...

alot of people writing off railway, i think they will get points off CHC

Anonymous said...

Lets see some names on these predictions! that way we can see who is drunk when posting

CHC 6 - 2 RU......is that a typeo?get down paddy power and see wat odds you get.....

rediculous........is that cocky?

Anonymous said...

Kilkenny vs TRR

1-3

Corinthian vs Railway Union

2-2

Monkstown vs Glenanne

2-4

Pembroke vs Fingal

4-0

UCD vs YMCA

1-3

Anonymous said...

I think the Corinthians prediction is correct they will breeze by Railway in their home ground. The first game this season was a fluke.

Anonymous said...

how was it a fluke so far this season Railway have beaten TRR abd CHC and gave Finagl and Glenanne a run for their money...that plus results against lower opposition show they are a good team.

Anonymous said...

Do the same second half of the season, and you will be a good team! I really think railway are in for a beating tomorrow,

Monkstown player

Anonymous said...

FLUKING RAILWAY! they have to stop fluking around taking points off real title contendors, like for flukes sack its just not on.

Weather conditions for sat are calm, spells of high pressure moving from end to end are assured, maybe a few lighning bolts from the top of the circle. There wont be any breeze in Whitechurch, I wont be bringing my kite.

The last time RU were in div 1 they turned over CHC in Whitechurch. So a win for RU would make it three in a row........

flukin unbelivable.

chopper

Anonymous said...

Come on Skerries......its a good chance to overturn what will be a weak Pembroke team!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hot off the press...6-0 win to Corinthians over Railway. You were right Chopper, few lightning bolts from the top of the circle up in Whitechurch alright. Brian Doherty with 3 drags in 1st half, 2 going straight in, 3rd hitting a foot on the line. Chris Pelow converted the resulting stroke. Pelow got his second of the day from a corner early in the 2nd half and a goal a piece for Sam Lobsey & Miles Warren finished off a comprehensive victory. Can't be any complaints from the visitors, weren't in it at any point...Should have brought ur kite too, coz it was blowing a gale!!

Anonymous said...

Someone obviously didn't do maths in school....that adds up to 7! Brian got 2,Pelow got 2, Warren got 1 and Lobsey got 1!

Anonymous said...

2+2+1+1=6 as far as i know!

Anonymous said...

Someone obviously didn't pay attention during English in school...

Makes perfect sense to me.

After Brian's third drag hit the foot, a stroke was given. Which Chris converted.

Maybe ask a grown up to read them out to you next time if you're struggling to work out the 'cryptic' ones!!!