Town tie for fifth; Suttonians up for semi

Andy Ewington’s 37th minute low penalty corner was the sole divider as Monkstown beat UCD 1-0 at Belfield last night to keep the Rathdown club right in the mix for the fourth automatic IHL place for 2010/11.

Both sides had their fair share of corners in an evenly matched contest, played at a decent tempo. Beyond set-pieces, though, the defensive side of the game was the dominant force with the Town defending their 25 compactly to deny any clear-cut chances.

It means they are tied for fifth place with YMCA but have the benefit of more wins this season – the tie-breaker for fourth and fifth place rather than goal-difference should it come to a tie in the final reckoning – and two games in hand.

For UCD, it keeps them in eighth place and anxious viewers of Saturday’s tie between Railway Union and Fingal, having missed out on a result on three occasions this term by narrow margins against Monkstown.

Should the Fingallians take the points, any lingering doubts over a relegation play-off will be virtually assuaged. Lose and the battle to avoid ninth will open massively, especially with Railway travelling to Belfield a week later.

Suttonians, meanwhile, travel north tomorrow for their first ever national level semi-final since the club’s inception.

They travel to Belfast Harlequins at almost full strength for their Irish Hockey Trophy fixture though long-term injury victim Richie Wormold will have to be a nervous spectator. The side rallied in midweek after a couple of chastening losses to Trinity and Weston with their tie against Avoca full of vim and vigour – the perfect preparation match.

St Brendan’s, meanwhile, fly the Leinster flag in the Irish Hockey Challenge. They play reigning champions Campbellians in the final four as the Phoenix Park club looks to celebrate their 80th anniversary in style.

Meanwhile, in Leinster division two the title race faces yet another twist as the side’s tied for second and third – Weston face Avoca – have the chance to draw level with Suttonians when they meet at Griffeen. Navan face Bray, hoping to bounce back off the bottom of the division.

Leinster Division One: UCD 0 Monkstown 1 (Andy Ewington)

Weekend fixtures (all Saturday unless stated)
Leinster Men’s Division One
Sat: Railway Union v Fingal, 2pm, Park Avenue
Tues: Monkstown v Railway, 8pm, Rathdown

Leinster Men’s Division Two:
Weston v Avoca, 1.45pm, Griffeen Valley Park; Navan vs Bray, 12.30pm, Kings Hospital

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy:
NICS v Antrim, 1pm, CIYMS; Belfast HQ v Suttonians, 1pm, Deramore

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge:
St Brendans v Cambellians, 1.30pm, Phoenix Park; Limerick v Larne, 2pm, Villiers