Quins enjoyed a comfortable home win in their derby tie with Cork C of I, 4-1; a scoreline matched by Railway against tournament newcomers Ards. Emer Dillon will return after work commitments kept her out of last week’s win over Bray to play her hometown club.
Her side laboured that day but, having conceded just three times in seven games, their defensive solidity with skipper Isobel Joyce backed up by Helen Stevenson, usually just one goal suffices.
One threat their side will not have to deal with is Irish skipper Eimear Cregan who remains on the injury list but Quins’ experience of the big occasion could be key.Rachel Kohler, Ireland’s most capped player, continues to drive the team.
Pembroke, meanwhile, have another Munster woman facing her former colleagues as Karen Hales is set to battle sister Jennifer at Serpentine Avenue with Cork C of I coming to town.
Player coach Natalie Fulton is in bullish mood ahead of the game, promising: "the girls will be coming out fighting on Saturday and are ready for the challenge”. Form has been erratic for the ’Broke but they will look to summon the spirit of the draws against Ballymoney and Hermes to stay in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
’Money visit Ards in Pool A’s other fixture.
The signs have been good of late. Nicci Daly has settled in well and Nikki Symmons is a class apart in the domestic league. Their combination-work with Niamh Small and Nikki Keegan and goalmouth poaching of Cathy McKean will mean Pegasus’ Michell Harvey will need to be on top form in what promises to be a high quality affair.
At Belfield on Sunday, Hermes are another side who need to get back on track after a home setback. They are again without the services of Chloe Watkins (ankle) and Niamh Atcheler (wrist) for the visit of UCC. Aine Connery, though, should return to face her alma mater while Emma Gray will need to be alert to Audrey O’Flynn – one of the country’s premier drag-flickers.
Old Alex face a trip to Randalstown on Saturday but three games unbeaten in the league has the developing side in a good place and they face a Randalstown-side without a win since early October.
Elsewhere, ten Leinster league clubs will be gunning for a place in the last 16 of the Irish Hockey Trophy. Ashton have already advanced as Priorians have pulled out of the long trip south.
ESB Irish Hockey League (all Saturday unless stated):
Group A: Ards Hockey Club vs Ballymoney, 6pm, CIYMS; Railway Union vs Cork Harlequins, 4pm, Park Avenue; Pembroke Wanderers vs Church of Ireland, 5pm, Serpentine Avenue
Group B: Pegasus vs Loreto Hockey Club, 5.30pm, Queens; Randalstown vs Old Alexandra, 2.30pm, Randalstown;
(Sunday) Hermes vs UCC, 2pm, Belfield
Leinster Women's Division One
Glens vs UCD, 12.30pm, St Mark's; Bray vs Corinthian, 1.15pm, Loreto, Bray
ESB Irish Hockey Trophy Round Two:
Knock vs Naas, 1pm, St Colmans School; Dromore vs North Kildare, 2.30pm, Ferris Park; Diocesan vs Muckross, 1pm, High School; Queens vs Waterford, 1pm, Queens; Wexford vs Ballymena, 2pm, Enniscorthy; Three Rock Ladies vs Yeat's County, 1pm, Grange Road; Omagh vs NICS, 2.30pm, Youth Sport Omagh; Galway vs Cookstown, 2.15pm, Dangan; Fingal vs Greenisland, 2.15pm, ALSAA; Bandon vs North Down, 1.30pm, Bandon GS; Suttonians vs Portadown, 3.30pm, Sutton Park; Greenfields vs Our Lady's, Terenure, 1.15pm, Mervue; Catholic Institute vs Skerries, 12.30pm, Rosbrien; Clontarf vs Parkview, 2.30pm, Mount Temple; Banbridge vs Carrickfergus, 4pm, Havelock Park
Result: Ashton w/o Priorians scr
7 comments:
If the champions of last year crash out of the IHL runnings at this early stage, it will only show how open the standards are in women's hockey in the country at the moment. What an exciting season! This is why the IHL has been a great addition to the national programme. Even if in leinster the competition has been narrowed down to the top two or three, these teams still have high quality hockey to play on a regular, year-round basis in the IHL. Brilliant.
A bit idiotic having IHL and league on same weekend, us lesser players may benefit from watching a better level of play
i thought domestic games werent allowed to clash with IHL games....as far as i know Munster league games are not allowed clash.... good point tho....would draw more numbers to games and as anon said "be able to benefit from watching better level of play"
"Even if in leinster the competition has been narrowed down to top two or three, these teams still have high quality hockey to play on a regular basis"!!! I think a lot of people would disagree with you on this one. The standard in Leinster hockey is very good and I'm preetty sure if you ask any of these so called "top tow/three teams" they will tell you that teams that finished as far down as 6th last year offer high quality opposition. Just look at the UCD Loreto game last week! Don't be so quick to put down the Leinster league standard please!!
What time are the UCD and Glenanne games??
Apologies for the oversight - Glens vs UCD, 12.30pm, St Mark's; Bray vs Corinthian, 1.15pm, Loreto, Bray
to 3.30: Those playing leinster league matches at 12.30 and 13.15, you will still be able to watch the IHL matches which are on in Dublin this weekend: Matches are at 16.00 in Railway, 17.00 in Pembroke, both on Sat and at 14.00 in UCD on Sunday.
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