Pembroke maintained their perfect record with a 4-1 win over Fingal after Alan Sothern fired them into a 2-0 lead with a pair of drag-flicks. Paddy Gahan squeezed one under David Harte to pull one back but Alan Giles' diving deflection on his reverse re-established the two-goal margin with six minutes to go before Gordon Elliott completed the win with a well-placed reverse.
Railway Union 3 (Paul O'Brien, Peter English, Mark English) Monkstown 5 (Andy Ewington, Andrew Ward, Brian Groves, Gareth Watkins, Frank Ryan)
Monkstown made it two wins of the spin while passing the 40 goal mark in games involving the Rathdown club in yet another lively encounter. They led throughout but an quick burst from Railway almost allowed them a way back into the game from a 3-0 deficit. Andy Ewington's drag and Andrew Ward's goal made it 2-0 at the break - courtesy of a fine David Fitzgerald stroke save from Mark English on the hooter - before Brian Groves pounced to make it three early in the second half. But Paul O'Brien swooped to deflect in a lifeline and Peter English banged in a corner to rein in the lead to 3-2. Gareth Watkins, though, responded to restore a cushion at 4-2 before Mark English whacked in a reverse-stick shot to make it tight once more. Frank Ryan, though, wrapped up the scoring to pull Monkstown clear.
Clontarf 4 (Ben Hewitt 2, Brendan Dempsey, Andrew Poynter) Glenanne 9 (Eddie O'Malley 3, Alan Lewis, Shane O'Donoghue, Stephen Butler 2, Mick McGuinness 2)
TRR 3 (Sven Galjaardt, Patrick Shanahan, Pierre de Voux) UCD 1 (Rob Lynch)
A fiesty affair, UCD will see this as an opportunity missed to get off the mark as they more than matched Rovers in the first half but an over anxious second half, saw them struggle to gain much fluidity and, for all their decent play, remain pointless with seven games gone. Sven Glajaardt and Rob Lynch exchanged drag-flicks to make it 1-1 before Michael Maguire, rightly after an umpire's consultation, had a reverse-stick effort ruled out for dangerous play. Patrick Shanahan made it 2-1 from the top of the D while UCD created plenty of chances on the counter but struggled for incision in front of Stephen West's goal. The second half was much scrappier with Maguire, Shane O'Donnell, Ben Grogan and Patrick Shanahan all given an enforced rest but Pierre de Voux got the only goal of the second half to seal the win.
Corinthian bossed their tie with YMCA to cause the first major split between the top and bottom halves of the table as they eased past YM at a sodden Whitechurch Park today. Darren Kimfley and Brian Doherty had the hosts 2-0 up before YM started to show some bite, aided by a rain-break to get their heads in gear. But Rowland Rixon-Fuller made it 3-0 in the second half to kill off the tie before Mikey Fry got a late consolation.
26 comments:
That's why we have faith in Eddie 'fox in the box' O'Malley!
Rovers are a much weaker side compared with the last few seasons. Without Maguire and Lyons they would be relegation candidates. Think they might struggle to regain IHL status.
What a stupid comment 11.36am If you look at the table, rovers already have 15 points. Do you really think clontarf or UCD will get that many?
Everyone knows rovers are weaker without 3 international players. But still have the quality of players to compete (i dont believe win) in IHL nevermind regain IHL status.
Stupid early season comment.
what about if the glens didnt have the 3 lads would they be relegation material, rediculous statement by mr anonymous
@11:36am:
don't think they'll struggle; it'll only take some time before the new tactics and players fall into place; they'll only get better as the new coach martin is providing the team with high quality training sessions.
I reckon 11.36 must be the same guy with the big spoon who starts most of these silly threads to get a rise.
UCD missed a chance against an understrength rovers - blakeney, bourke, good, haughton, henderson all out. they were decent in the first half but lost the plot a bit at times in a poor second half, looked like they were overhyped for 2nd half!
Rovers did reach what used to be considered the safety mark for relegation sides of 15 points so anything now is a bonus!
was wondering is there a way to see who the top goalscorers are in div 1, if not be good addition to the site good work with the site
It's great looking back over all the pre-match comments and seeing what farcical predictions were issued re: certain games.
Also, anyone else looking at UCD's warmup over the past couple of games and wondering why a team is clowning around a field before serious games?? - reality check, 7 games, no points, bottom of the table.
Playing frisbee before the YMCA game, then doing some sort of happy clappy running and dancing around the pitch before the CHC game really isn't what this league is all about.
And just because your students, you can't get away with it...your attitude in the warm up shows in the results...
MAPPM
YM were pretty poor on sat --will struggle for 5th on that evidence --walker saved them from a real spanking --chc dominated with very strong performances from cronjey and lucas --relatively young midfield starting to click--will be interesting to see if they can maintain and build on that standard.
Being a neutral watching the CHC/ YM game, Walker is being let down by the rest of the side because he is such an outstanding keeper and kept YM in the game for so long.
If he wasn't in goal, the score would have been much higher in CHC's favour.
An Irish keeper not playing in IHL?
James D.
In fairness he's getting a great workout every match because of the weak team in front of him....
....although not playing at IHL will give his nearest GK competitors a chance to show their abilities at the highest level and stake a claim above Iain at national squad
Realistically the top 4 will be pem, trr. glens and corin (not in that order) and 5th place between Fingal, YMCA and Monkstown. Having seen these 3 teams already this season, i'd have fingal in pole position. They looked organised against Pembroke and still have players to come back from injury. Monkstown are conceding goals for fun and YM dont have the consistency just yet.
great to see darren kimfley back playing well for reds--good pace and great skills --will do lots of damage this year
i would agree with the comment at 10:59. the games between Fingal, YMCA and Monkstown will decide 5th place as i cant see these teams takin many points from teams above or losing many points to teams below. But I think YM are in pole position
although CHC/TRR could be dragged into it if the hit bad form
Yes UCD. You have no right to have any fun when you're losing! Only winning teams get to have fun! Get a life mate.
I've seen their warm up and it's actually quite disciplined and energetic and does acheive the objective of WARMING THEM UP, and getting them hyped up for the match.
Gives a little spice to the league.
monkstown and ym still look to be streets ahead of fingal, they've got a lot more going forward. Fingal are fingal, battlers,competitve, a couple of very good players, but both ym and monktown have got attacking quality in spades, for more pace and purpose about them.
as for criticising the oiks for happy clappy warm ups, those boys need to try anythin to stay up!
in reply to 12.52. Fingal have been in the top 5 for the last 5/6 years wheras YM havent finished above 7th in that period. They might have a few more attacking options, but they have a soft defence. If i were a gambling man, i'd back YM to finish 7th again.
where did fingal finish last year, dont think it was top 5?
Despite all the hype, here are the facts:
YM are currently 7th in Division 1 (with a game or two in hand)
The Hook predicts they'll finish 6th this season (Last season YM finished 7th)
It does look like they've improved their squad though, so 5th might be achievable as a stretch goal and get them an IHL wilcard playoff.
Big test this weekend with Rovers visiting Alexandra College though.
YM did beat Rovers in the pre-season Neville Cup 3-1 so this will be a good benchmark.
I'm dyin to see this UCD warm up now, sounds like great craic, I think the majority of Division 1 needs to lighten up, yis are worse than us lot in div 2! Heavan forefend that anyone could have a laugh playin hockey!
Glenanne result: O'Malley 3 McGuiness 2 Butler 2 Lewis 1 And O'Donoghue 1. Lewis only got one O'Donoghue was amoungst the scorers. I was a spectator at the game
If you want to follow the exploits of Eddie 'Fox in the Box' O'Malley join his personal fan club at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=175969054248&ref=mf
YM have some talent, but dont seem to change their tactics when the initial ones are clearly not working. 2-0 down and falling away to the half line?? Surely you'd want to be putting some pressure on and getting the ball back in an attacking position so you have a chance of getting back into the game.
Corinthians weren't overly great either, but the slowness of the pitch and being allowed to walk the ball up under no pressure had them in control from the 1st whistle.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=107700&id=1778125949#/group.php?gid=175969054248&ref=nf
Fox in the Box has a fan club...
Glenanne result: O'Malley 3 McGuiness 2 Butler 2 Lewis 1 And O'Donoghue 1. Lewis only got one O'Donoghue was amoungst the scorers. Just noticing that now.
Post a Comment