Old Alex II currently rule the roost in division two, carrying a six point advantage into the second half of the season, boasting a perfect six from six home record to lead the way from reigning champions Railway Union II and Loreto II. Becca Coll and Hazel Agar’s goals have been a key factor as the club looks to blend their rising youth element with more experienced heads. Genesis are the leading first eleven in the division, competing for what looks to be a promotion playoff place for the second year running. Three Rock ladies are in contention for that position, too, three points back but with a game in hand.
Division Three:
Muckross lead the way in the race to clamber back up to division two from their nine-team division with a perfect record from their seven games to date. Our Lady’s lie second, three points back but will spend much of the second half of the season on the road having left Terenure just once this term to date. Bray II are just about in touching distance, five points off top spot. If they are to keep pace with the leading pair, they will need a favourable result on Saturday.
Division Four:
Naas, coached by Mark Slaughter, lead the bunch in division four though its a close run thing with Newbridge just a point off the pace and Botanic still within touching distance of the leading pair. The latter pairing face off in a crucial fixture this weekend. Glenanne II have held the division’s end up when it comes to the Irish Junior Cup, producing the shock of the competition when they bested reigning champions Hermes II. They will be aiming to repeat the trick against Old Alex II, another division two opponent, next Saturday.
Continuing the theme of first teams leading the way at the Christmas break, Swords head division five by a point from Old Alex III. Breda Orohoe and Siobhan McKittrick continue to be among the club’s leading lights while goals from Aisling Corby and Fiona Walshe secured the December top spot. They and Alex are well clear of the pack after eight rounds of matches.
Division Six:
Inaugural Irish Hockey Challenge winners, YMCA’s meteoric rise continues apace since their entry onto the women’s scene in 2006. A fourth straight league win appears on the cards, heading the table by five points and still yet to ever lose a league match. They jumped three divisions following a dominant performance in division nine last year but, while they have been held to two draws, have shown few problems in acclimatising to the new surroundings. The second promotion place is a much tighter affair with Muckross II, Genesis III and Newbridge II covered by just two points.
Division Seven:
Pembroke VI head what looks a four horse race for the two promotion places on offer. They lead Hermes III by a point, though the Booterstown club have won all four of their away dates thus far while the ‘Broke travel to Tullamore in what could be a tricky tie this weekend. Railway Union IV and Suttonians II are also in the shake-up.
Division Eight:Another of the newly inaugurated clubs flying through the leagues, Monkstown are on course for a second successive promotion, leading the way by five points. After initially being placed in division 12, they waltzed through a couple of games and were subsequently regraded up four notches on the ladder. They are chased by the first teams of Phoenix Park and Jimmy Dunne’s Malahide with the former looking good to take second place.
Division Nine:
Muckross III hold the Christmas number one, making it a fine season to date for the Donnybrook club with each of their top four clubs occupying a top three place in their resepective divisions. It’s a tight, two point margin back to UCD IV though the students have yet to play a single away game to date which may have an impact.
Division Ten:
Avoca II’s immaculate home form has led them to the top of the division ten tree as seven wins with just a single goal conceded has helped them record 21 points this term. Swords II are unbeaten home and away but two draws mean they are one point off the pace but in good shape to earn promotion and make a concerted run at the league title.
Division Eleven:
North Kildare III and Mullingar vye for the bragging rights in division eleven, both making it to the mid-term break unbeaten in league competition. Kildare hold sway by virtue of an extra draw in the bag but ’Gar’s game in hand could prove vital in this nine team division.
Division Twelve:
Having moved up from division 13 in the league re-alignment last term, Dalkey II are heading the eight-team pack in division 12, dropping just two points from their six games. Weston III are a point back while Clontarf V and Railway Union VI are also competitive with just four points covering the top four sides.
Division Thirteen:
Old Alex VI make it two sides from Milltown to hold sway at the Christmas turnaround as they top division 13 by three points in the seven team competition. Avoca III and YMCA II are three points back after five games and are the main contenders.
Division Fourteen:
Monkstown’s second team are enjoying their maiden season with six big wins already to their credit, averaging over five goals per game. Skerries IV have matched them virtually every step of the way, notching up five wins from five ties to date. Avoca IV and Mullingar II are also contenders but there is plenty of twists and turns still to come in a 14-team division with Monkstown due to travel to Westmeath on Saturday.
2 comments:
Go Alex 2's all the way!!
Wow, 14 women's leagues in Leinster. I didn't realise there were so many! What I wonder though is, with so many women involved in the game of hockey in this province, why is there so little interest in the exploits of those playing in the first division and provincial and national teams? Hockey as a spectator sport needs to be promoted and all those playing should be encouraged to watch senior competitions.
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