Monday, March 30, 2009

Men's Division One: Round-Up

Pembroke took a major step toward reclaiming the league title from Three Rock's clutches as they held off the intentions of Corinthian at Serpentine Avenue. The 'Broke took full points to come closer to taking their first of what could be a glut of trophies this season.

Conor Harte zinged in a corner while Maurice Elliott knocked in a pull-back from six yards to make it 2-0. From that point on, Corinthian enjoyed the majority of possession but Dan Williams' close range effort was all they had to show for their endeavour.

Three Rock's loss on Saturday to a supremely impressive Monkstown put paid to the Grange Road side's tenure as division one champions. Rovers took the lead early on when Mitch Darling rounded off a nice move involving Michael Maguire and Peter Blakeney.

However, Andrew Ward and Gareth Watkins scored to swap the lead, their side's direct style working to their advantage. Peter McConnell's drag made it 2-2 but another long ball was smartly finished by Ward's reverse-stick. Watkins made it 4-2 before McConnell got an academic goal back in the closing minutes.

It made Rovers' tie with Corinthian on Sunday less meaningful as the pair played out a low-key 1-0 result. The game marked Darren Kimfley's interesting sojourn to Ireland but he was unable to end his time with victory despite his side enjoying the lion's share of possession for the second successive day.

Peter Blakeney's fine open-side strike was the day's high point. Wendel Armstrong had an impressive day between the posts while John McInroy hit the woodwork, as did Andy McConnell during Rovers' best period - bizarrely coinciding with being down to ten men. The reds also had an odd injury concern over Brian Doherty who collapsed in a heap when a routine was passed back to the sweeper. He recovered, though, to finish out the game and will hope to stay fit for the Ireland A panel.

Glenanne remain the only side left in contention for the title, though they need Pembroke to drop points against either Kilkenny or Monkstown. Understrength, they beat Fingal 5-2.

Fingal, meanwhile, could be on course for yet another Leinster Branch ruling over who takes the wild card space for fifth in division one. The northsiders and Corinthian will fancy their chances of maximum points from their respective remaining games which would see the pair tied on 27 points in the final reckoning.

Finally, UCD enjoyed a doubly good day as the men added to their ladies' success with a 2-1 win of their own. Their first win of the season sees them leap-frog the Cats and up into ninth place.

Robbie McFarlane got the winner of a tense affair nine minutes from time from a neatly worked long corner move. Kilkenny took the lead but Ben Grogan's (pictured celebrating) drag-flick made it 1-1.
Saturday results
Monkstown 4 (Gareth Watkins 2, Andrew Ward 2) TRR 3 (Peter McConnell 2, Mitch Darling); Pembroke 2 (Conor Harte, Maurice Elliott) Corinthian 1 (Dan Williams); UCD 2 Kilkenny 1; Fingal 2 (Andrew Shekleton 2) Glenanne 5 (John Goulding 2, Jonathon Kane 2, Shane O'Donoghue)
Sunday: Corinthian 0 TRR 1 (Peter Blakeney)

* For more of Adrian Boehm's pictures from UCD's game with Kilkenny, click here. For John Keogh's pics of Corinthian vs TRR, click here while Emer Keogh's of Monkstown vs TRR are here.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The "in form team" not so in form anymore...

Anonymous said...

any news on score between CHC 2's and TRR 2's from yesterday?

Stephen Findlater said...

It ended 3-2 to CHC, the reds won it with a late goal.

Anonymous said...

so much for Kilkennys greater firepower, watched the UCD match and found that the cats only clear cut chance was the stroke. however is it not a cardable offense if the goalkeeper takes out a player who is clear through to score?because if he isnt clear through then it shouldnt be a stroke and if he is then the goalkeeper is preventing a definite goal is he not?

Anonymous said...

Also, does anyone know if league table positioning is decided on goal deifferance if teams end up level on points after all games are played, as the top/bottom of the table looks tight, along with 5th spot?

Stephen Findlater said...

Right, March 30, 2009 12:09 PM, based on precedent, this is an incredibly complex question. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is my current understanding.

* First place, if level, will go to a play-off.

* For IHL rankings/seedings of the top four, goal difference will apply.

* If fourth and fifth are tied, last season the fourth IHL place and the wildcard place were decided on who won more games and not goal difference.

* For ninth and tenth tying, there is a playoff to decide who gets relegated and the winner goes into the division one/two promotion/relegation playoff.

Anonymous said...

Heard there was a tasty equaliser for Rovers to make it 2-2 from some celebrity blogger?

Anonymous said...

See Rule 79(b) Ranking of Other positions (except bottom teams)

Teams will be ranked according to the number of points each has accumulated in the competition.

If at the end of the league matches, two or more teams have the same number of points these teams will be ranked according to their respective number of matches won.

If there remains equality among two or more teams, then these teams will be ranked according to their respective goal difference (which means Goals for less Goals against) with a positive goal difference always taking precedence over a negative one.


If there still remains equality between two or more teams, then these teams will be ranked according to their respective number of goals for.

Should there still remain equality between two or more teams, then the results of the matches played between (only) those teams involved will be taken into consideration to determine the ranking of the tied teams.

Anonymous said...

If it is games won, then goal difference to decide 5th place, Fingal have to score 30+ goals in their final two games.

Corinthians are all but guaranteed 5th.

Anonymous said...

Unless the on form U.C.D do some damage against chc, stranger things have happened!

Anonymous said...

yeah a few Corinthians players may have gone shooting their mouths off about being the "form team" and finishing 4th a bit prematurely. Fairly big gap between them and Monkstown now.

PWHC player

Anonymous said...

Good to see Rovers in the Galactico White, they'll be sparkling for the EHL camera's...

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Hockey Awards.. I assume that the awards are for the season 2008 / 2009 as last years awards were decided before the outcome of the club championships and the senior league last year ..

Stephen perhaps you can recap on what was achieved at a senior level by whom at the end of last year and this year to date. These awards have been a bit of a farce to date with some obvious people not even being nominated..

Will they wait for the outcome of the irish league to decide this year ?!

March 27, 2009 10:16 AM

Stephen i noticed this comment on another section can you get clarity from IHA if the awards are last year this year as the nominations are in before the IHL is actually decided ?

Anonymous said...

i bet kyle good was in pain judging by the photos!

Anonymous said...

Interesting question: is the fact that umpire(s) did not turn up this weekend a coincidence, or is this some sort of mini strike??

Anonymous said...

where is the pig pen?? is it the balcony in pembroke, the balcony in rovers, the grass bank in rathdown, the far side in YM?? Can anyone solve this mystery??? Any umpires willing to shed a little light as i'm sure if the team involved knew what their supporters were referred to by the umpires they might do something about it? Any thoughts...

Tom Goode said...

Re Fingal v Glenanne last saturday and the failure of an umpire to show up, this was mistake on my part. A number of weeks ago one of the umpires I appointed to this game advised me that he was unavailable but I forgot to remove him from my list and replace him.I have sent my apologies to the management and players of both teams involved and also my thanks for the common sense approach adopted by both teams in getting the game played.I believe the 2 guys that stepped in for a half each did an excellent job.

My apologies once again.

Tom.

Anonymous said...

Tom, fair dos for being honest, transparent and genuine in your apology. If only all our branch representatives could follow your example