UCD hold aces for hockey colours

UCD go into today's hockey colours with Trinity as clear favourites to retain their title after their massive 7-2 victory last year.

In the main games, UCD's recent run of form means they are likely to be too strong for David Bane's side, even in spite of their first league win of the year last Saturday. League form, though scarcely counts for much though as the pair have played out two tight games this year with the Belfielders coming away with a win and a draw.

Last time out, UCD raced into a 4-0 lead before Trinity rallied to pull three back. On the men's side, UCD have the advantage of playing in a higher division though just one point may leave Ben Grogan's side lacking in confidence.

Their opponents, though, can hardly fall back on a wealth of league form as they lie mid-table in division two. Indeed, last year was one of the very rare occasions that UCD won the men's firsts game, coming from a goal deficit to win 3-2.

Elsewhere, UCD's strength usually comes on the women's side with a dominant record in recent years, with many of their junior league sides performing a couple of divisions ahead of their city-centre counterparts. Trinity's men have a similar advantage but with four men's games compared to six women's, the balance of power should rest with the southsiders.

In an interesting twist from previous years, the men's fourths could be the deciding game as the tenth game to tip off rather than the regular showcase men's firsts game - a match which attracts the loudest support in Irish hockey.

Schedule:

10am: Men's 2nds (Water-based); Women's 2nds (Sand-based); Women's 3rds (New pitch)

11.30am: Women's 1sts (Water); Women's 4ths (Sand); Women's 5ths (New)

1pm: Men's 1sts (Water); Men's 3rds (Sand); Women's 6ths (New)

2pm: Men's 4ths (New)