Men's Division One: Round-Up

Pembroke took a major step toward reclaiming the league title from Three Rock's clutches as they held off the intentions of Corinthian at Serpentine Avenue. The 'Broke took full points to come closer to taking their first of what could be a glut of trophies this season.

Conor Harte zinged in a corner while Maurice Elliott knocked in a pull-back from six yards to make it 2-0. From that point on, Corinthian enjoyed the majority of possession but Dan Williams' close range effort was all they had to show for their endeavour.

Three Rock's loss on Saturday to a supremely impressive Monkstown put paid to the Grange Road side's tenure as division one champions. Rovers took the lead early on when Mitch Darling rounded off a nice move involving Michael Maguire and Peter Blakeney.

However, Andrew Ward and Gareth Watkins scored to swap the lead, their side's direct style working to their advantage. Peter McConnell's drag made it 2-2 but another long ball was smartly finished by Ward's reverse-stick. Watkins made it 4-2 before McConnell got an academic goal back in the closing minutes.

It made Rovers' tie with Corinthian on Sunday less meaningful as the pair played out a low-key 1-0 result. The game marked Darren Kimfley's interesting sojourn to Ireland but he was unable to end his time with victory despite his side enjoying the lion's share of possession for the second successive day.

Peter Blakeney's fine open-side strike was the day's high point. Wendel Armstrong had an impressive day between the posts while John McInroy hit the woodwork, as did Andy McConnell during Rovers' best period - bizarrely coinciding with being down to ten men. The reds also had an odd injury concern over Brian Doherty who collapsed in a heap when a routine was passed back to the sweeper. He recovered, though, to finish out the game and will hope to stay fit for the Ireland A panel.

Glenanne remain the only side left in contention for the title, though they need Pembroke to drop points against either Kilkenny or Monkstown. Understrength, they beat Fingal 5-2.

Fingal, meanwhile, could be on course for yet another Leinster Branch ruling over who takes the wild card space for fifth in division one. The northsiders and Corinthian will fancy their chances of maximum points from their respective remaining games which would see the pair tied on 27 points in the final reckoning.

Finally, UCD enjoyed a doubly good day as the men added to their ladies' success with a 2-1 win of their own. Their first win of the season sees them leap-frog the Cats and up into ninth place.

Robbie McFarlane got the winner of a tense affair nine minutes from time from a neatly worked long corner move. Kilkenny took the lead but Ben Grogan's (pictured celebrating) drag-flick made it 1-1.

Saturday results

Monkstown 4 (Gareth Watkins 2, Andrew Ward 2) TRR 3 (Peter McConnell 2, Mitch Darling); Pembroke 2 (Conor Harte, Maurice Elliott) Corinthian 1 (Dan Williams); UCD 2 Kilkenny 1; Fingal 2 (Andrew Shekleton 2) Glenanne 5 (John Goulding 2, Jonathon Kane 2, Shane O'Donoghue)

Sunday: Corinthian 0 TRR 1 (Peter Blakeney)

* For more of Adrian Boehm's pictures from UCD's game with Kilkenny, click here. For John Keogh's pics of Corinthian vs TRR, click here while Emer Keogh's of Monkstown vs TRR are here.