Last year's indoor finalists lead the way

Last year's finalists, Monkstown and Three Rock Rovers, took the early initiative on the opening day of the indoor league, with 13 games producing nearly 120 goals at the National Basketball Arena.

Rovers lead the way in Group One thanks to two impressive second half performances against Trinity and Glenanne. Other than that, they struggled to create any major fluidity and in both those games went in at 3-3 at half-time. Indeed, they trailed to the students 3-2 after Henry Butler's double and French recruit Alex Borgoltz scored three in a minute to have Rovers in trouble.

A hat-trick from Andy McConnell, though, saw them ease clear. A similar situation occurred against a tiring Glenanne after they were pegged back three times before Colin Huet showed his class in the pivot with a brace, as did Lucas Piccioli and Mitch Darling.

Corinthian are next best with a win and a draw, the latter due to Chris Pelow's hat-trick against Rovers. Their passage to the last four looks likely to be determined by their face-off with Glenanne in the final group game next Sunday.

In group two, the Town showed the most impressive form of the day, smashing Avoca 11-1 with Gareth Watkins quadruple and YMCA 6-1 before coming back from 2-0 down against Pembroke to level late on. Alec Barrett and Filip Jaros - who represented the Czech Republic in the World Cup - were their key men, both holding the midfield well.

Railway - with guests Kevin King (England) and Bjorn van der Dussen (Holland) - were frustrated not to build further on their early 6-1 win over YM as they drew 4-4 with Avoca, sucucmbing to three late goals. Belgian-import David Bronner - who joins Bray outfield - got an equaliser two seconds before the buzzer for the Blackrock side for that draw and Railway subsequently drew by the same score with Pembroke.

It leaves them with a key battle against Monkstown next week. Pembroke can draw level despite an 8-4 thumping by YMCA. Fielding seven internationals, Pembroke looked all at sea in their first run-out but got to grips with the game as time went on to record two draws. The late concessions against Monkstown may prove vital while injuries to Ronan Gormley and Craig Fulton are an added headache.

Avoca and YM also have outside chances of going through.


Pembroke V. Monkstown Indoor 1.2.2009 from JWay on Vimeo.


Men’s Indoor Hockey League
Group 1: Kilkenny 2 (Tom Manning, Hugh Kelly) Corinthian 7 (John McInroy 2, Alan Blennerhassett 2, Rowland Rixon-Fuller, Dan Williams, Sam Lobsey); Dublin University 4 (Keith Crawford 2, Cian O'Reilly, Henry Butler) Kilkenny 10 (Peter Yeates 4, Derek O'Gorman 3, Tom Manning, Gary Sharman, Hugh Kelly); Three Rock Rovers 3 (Andy McConnell, Lucas Piccioli, Garry Ringwood) Corinthian 3 (Chris Pelow 3); Dublin University 3 (Henry Butler 2, Alex Borgoltz) Three Rock Rovers 11 (Graham Dowling, Mitch Darling 2, Andy McConnell 3, Garry Ringwood 2, Neil Lyons, Alan Bothwell, Colin Huet); Glenanne 6 (Brendan Parsons 2, Gary Shaw, Joe Brennan 2, David Shaw) Dublin University 0; Glenanne 3 (Gary Shaw, Brendan Parsons, Paul Fitzpatrick) Three Rock Rovers 8 (Peter McConnell, Mitch Darling 2, Andy McConnell, Lucas Piccioli 2, Colin Huet 2)
Group 2: Railway Union 6 (Paul O'Brien, Ger O'Brien, Kenny Carroll 3, Bjorn van der Dussen) YMCA 1 (Josh Purcell); Avoca 4 (Enda Gallanagh, Ezra Handelman, Rory Kirwin, David Bronner) Railway Union 4 (Kenny Carroll, Eoin McArthur, Killian Fitzgerald, Paul O'Brien); Avoca 1 (Ezra Handelman) Monkstown 11 (Fran Lee, Alec Barrett 2, Filip Jaros 2, Gareth Watkins 4, Ian Allen); YMCA 8 (Andy Walker 2, Jacob Webber 3, David Robinson 2, Stephen Barry) Pembroke Wanderers 4 (Alan Sothern 2, Craig Fulton, Alan Giles); Pembroke Wanderers 4 (Paddy Conlon 2, Alan Sothern, Alan Giles) Railway Union 4 (Kenny Carroll, Paul O'Brien 3); Monkstown 6 (Ian Allen 2, Gareth Watkins 2, Fran Lee 2) YMCA 1 (Trevor Dagg); Monkstown 2 (Filip Jaros, Alec Barrett) Pembroke Wanderers 2 (Alan Sothern 2)


Glennane V. TRR Indoor 1.2.2009 from JWay on Vimeo.

Standings:
Group One (played/points/goal diff): 1. TRR 3 - 7pts, (+13); 2. Corinthian 2 - 4pts, (+5); 3= Kilkenny 2 - 3pts, (+1); Glenanne 2 - 3pts, (+1); 5. Trinity 3 - 0pts, (-20)
Group Two: 1. Monkstown 3 - 7pts, (+15); 2. Railway Union 3 - 5pts, (+5); 3. YMCA 3 - 3pts, (-4); 4. Pembroke 3 - 2pts, (-4); 5. Avoca 2 - 1pt, (-10)