Six players now ply their club trade with Old Alex with Laura Gray and Emma Russell now first team regulars and so they have a well-received postponement for their tie against Trinity.

It leaves what look to be three mis-matched ties on paper with IHL contenders UCD, Hermes and Loreto facing sides from the lower end of the division – Pembroke, Glenanne and Three Rock Ladies, respectively.

For Loreto, the return of the Grange Road derby could be a tricky one against a Three Rock ladies side who have shown a willingness to pack their defence.

Alex found proceedings difficult at Grange Road while Glenanne were kept to a blank last time round as Eimear Fitzsimons and Claire Fitzpatrick have been particularly solid.

But the Beaufort side have plenty of firepower – Nicci Daly and Cathy McKean already with three goals to their name this term – to pick from and inside knowledge from Nikki Symmons who has been helping with the coaching with Three Rock.

Youngster Laura Delany, though, is one who will not feature until after Christmas as she links up with the Irish women’s cricket team. Glenanne will lose the services of Claire Shillington and Mary Waldron in due course for the same reason but they are still around for the visit of Hermes who introduced Miriam Crowley to good effect in the IHL, the Irish striker scoring her first for the club.

The Glens are also without emerging star Jennifer Rynne but have the work-rate and home turf in their favour.
UCD will aim to retake top spot in the division when they host Pembroke as red-hot Anna O’Flanagan aims to add to her half-dozen of goals since switching to the club.

Railway and Corinthian have a weekend off having brought their fourth scheduled game forward a couple of weeks as both were handed an Irish Senior Cup bye.

It suited both clubs as Kate Dillon and Holly Jenkinson from Railway and the reds’ Colm Blennerhassett are all involved in the Leinster U-18 coaching setup.

They travel north seeking to win back the title for the first time since 2007 while the U-16s are hoping to bridge a six year gap.

Women’s Leinster Division One: UCD vs Pembroke, 1pm, Belfield; Glenanne vs Hermes, 3pm, St Mark’s; Three Rock Ladies vs Loreto, 4.45pm, Grange Road; Old Alex vs Trinity postponed
Division Two: Corinthian vs Pembroke, 12.45pm, Whitechurch Park; Railway Union vs Hermes, 1.15pm, Park Avenue; Newbridge vs UCD, 2.30pm; Loreto vs Old Alex, North Kildare vs Genesis both postponed

The site has come a long way since its early beginnings. In the past year, the switch to a website format and the development of the site’s excellent photographic arm, culminating in the Irish Hockey Photographers’ dedicated website, were among the projects undertaken.

During the season, the addition of more video elements and our first ever ‘livestream’ – the vast majority with thanks to Tristan Seaton-Stedham – has been a huge advance.

The first Hook Awards’ night – primarily a fundraiser for Glenanne’s EHL trip at Easter – will hopefully become a regular fixture in the local hockey calendar.

Full league tables, updated on Sunday morning’s based on club submissions were integrated mid-season and the Stats Centre will hopefully be tidied up and improved in the coming months.

For the 2011/12 season, using The Hook’s twitter page, the intention is to be ramp up this service and be able to collate virtually all of the divisional results in a simple, free fashion within minutes of game’s completion and, thus provide the earliest possible league table updates.

During the season, the Hook has endeavoured to travel to as many games as possible, taking in trips to Munster, Ulster, the Netherlands and France to cover as many aspects of our sport to the highest standard.

More details will follow on this in due course but to develop these elements and maintain standards, the site does require a personal financial outlay which is primarily attempted to be covered from those who have donated to the site; 100pc of these funds go back into the Hook’s development.

Should you wish to help the coverage and promotion of Leinster and Irish hockey, feel free to contribute to the site via the ‘Donation’ button on the left-hand side of this page (or follow this link).

Finally, thank you all for taking the time to read, contribute and comment to The Hook. Website hits have increased more close to three-fold this season, an indicator that the Hook’s efforts are being appreciated in some form.

Such indicators, along with the feedback received around the grounds week-in, week-out, make the efforts which go into the site much easier to manage.

All the best for the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing some of you pitch-side as the Irish men and women pursue their Olympic dream, building toward the European Championships in August.

Stephen Findlater

Carlsberg, Ed Sports and Gilmour Sports also came on board to support the event with proceeds from the event going to support Glenanne’s EHL bid over the Easter weekend.

The awards themselves took on a two-part process with clubs asked to nominate players, coaches and umpires from within their own club and from others to produce the main shortlist.

From those shortlists, the public vote drew well over 4,000 responses and was the most viewed story on the site since moving to the new format at the start of the season. Winners were determined solely on this basis.

Adrian Boehm received the largest percentage of the vote in any category as he took the Contributor of the Year title with a massive 41.72% of the vote for his sterling photographic work that he provides each week.

Indeed, his volume and quality of photos over the last weekend can be seen on the Irish Hockey Photographers website, covering all four of the national finals in Belfield to the highest standard.

Gillian McAuliffe, the woman responsible for the site’s overhaul last summer, took second place in this category just ahead of photographer Deryck Vincent.

The umpire of the year award was the closest category but was eventually taken down by Olympic whistle-blower Carol Metchette (left), coming in just ahead of Fiona Davitt and Kieran Bolger.

Metchette continues to impress in both the men’s and women’s division one games while also showing the tenacity in the past week in the line of duty, umpiring in key games this week despite picking up a shiner sustained in the first meeting of Loreto and Old Alex.

A feature of the umpire’s vote was the spread of nominations in the “Other” option with UDP umpires Karl Chapple and Ali Keogh along with Kris Cholewa picking up a number of votes.

Scott Beattie took the Coach of the Year following a bumper debut year with Sutton Park, winning the northside school’s first Senior title when they claimed the Senior Trophy in dramatic fashion while also reaching the Minor Cup final.

Will Powderly was among the “other” nominations, receiving a high proportion of the public vote while Richard Mason and Didi Cole’s dual-work at Monkstown and Gareth Borland’s role as Leinster U-16 boss and Clontarf player-coach also drew plenty of praise beyond the initial nominees.

Onto the player awards and Dannielle Cummins, Avoca’s first team goalkeeper took the Junior Women’s title just ahead of YMCA taliswoman Tara Powderly.

And another goalkeeper took the Junior Men’s gong, Rathgar Chiefs’ Dan Gribben certainly his side’s most consistent performer until he broke his hand recently in the club’s maiden season.

Audrey McCormack tallied the most votes of any of the categories as the Glenanne woman took home the Senior Women’s Player of the Year. The midfielder continues to be a powerhouse in midfield and the engine which drives the Glens all-action approach.

Finally, Gareth Watkins (below, left) added another personal achievement to 2010 Irish Hockey Club Player of the Year crown, as he topped the Senior Men’s Player of the Year tally ahead of Glenanne’s Joe Brennan.

A big thanks again to Gary Shaw and his crew for putting together the night and to all the people who attended on the night, helped with nominations and voted for the various awards.

The Hook exists for and because of the people that take part in our game at all levels week in and week out and so, to receive the support for this venture and, indeed, the site in general is pretty overwhelming and suggests a need is being fulfilled.

These awards honour just some of the people that make the sport a source of enjoyment for people to be involved in and want to prosper, capturing some of the spirit of the game. Long may it continue.

*** The top three in each category is below with the percentage of the final vote in brackets while also mentioned are some of the people who received sizeable votes in the “other” section and are worthy of mention for their efforts in the past season.

Contributor of the Year (Total votes: 676)
1. Adrian Boehm (41.72%)
2. Gillian McAuliffe (18.64%)
3. Deryck Vincent (18.49%)
Honorable mentions outside of the nominees: Emer Keogh – photographic contributions

Umpire of the Year (615)
1. Carol Metchette (18.21%)
2. Fiona Davitt (14.47%)
3. Kieran Bolger (12.85%)
Honorable mentions: Kris Cholewa, Karl Chapple, Ali Keogh

Coach of the Year (904)
1. Scott Beattie, Sutton Park (22.57%)
2. Graham Shaw, Loreto/Glenanne (14.82%)
3. Mick McKinnon, Railway ladies (10.73%)
Honorable mentions: Will Powderly (YMCA ladies), Richard Mason/Didi Cole (Monkstown); Gareth Borland (Leinster U-16/Clontarf); Mary Logue (Hermes); Brendon Carolan (Pembroke)

Junior Women’s Player of the Year (487)
1. Danielle Cummins, Avoca (28.13%)
2. Tara Powderly, YMCA (23.82%)
3. Sarah Lovett, Monkstown (18.69%)
Honorable mentions: Emma Kilbride (Our Lady’s); Fiona Walshe (Swords); Courtney Watkins (Monkstown)

Junior Men’s Player of the Year (454)
1. Dan Gribben, Rathgar Chiefs (31.5%)
2. Martin Naughton, Avoca (21.37%)
3. Stephen Cairns, Clontarf (16.08%)
Honorable mentions: Harry Spain (Suttonians), Tom Noonan (Clontarf), Paul Kennedy (St James’ Gate)

Senior Women’s Player of the Year (977)
1. Audrey McCormack, Glenanne (22.01%)
2. Chloe Watkins, UCD (14.23%)
3. Kate Dillon, Railway Union (13.61%)
Honorable mentions: Maebh Horan (Trinity), Jeamie Deacon (Railway Union), Sinead Walsh (Railway Union), Nikki Symmons (Loreto), Sinead Dooley (Railway Union)

Senior Men’s Player of the Year (710)
1. Gareth Watkins, Monkstown (21.55%)
2. Joe Brennan, Glenanne (15.07%)
3. Alan Blennerhassett, Corinthian (12.25%)
Honorable mentions: Ali Haughton (TRR); Andrew Walker (YMCA); Brian Groves (Monkstown); Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne); Andrew Sutton (Corinthian); Fran Lee (Monkstown)

The poll is also still open for the Hook’s Contributor of the Year with the nominees for Junior Player of the Year (those operating for first teams outside of men’s and women’s division one) set to go live later today.

Nominees for these awards have come about from proposals in the various categories, seeking to honour the broad spectrum of Leinster hockey.

Voting will be open up until March 30 with the winners being announced at The Hook’s Awards Night and end of season party – held in conjunction with Glenanne SC – on April 2 in Kobra on Leeson Street.

To secure your ticket for the event, contact Gary Shaw on 087 986 1942 or email shawsie14@gmail.com. Tickets costs €10 and will also include free entry into NV nightclub while there will be finger-food and spot prizes on the night.

Here are the five votes online thus far:

A five goal first-half blitz put paid to any notion of an opening day surprise as the Glens comfortably held off the challenge of UCD at Belfield this afternoon. 5-0 at half-time was extended to seven by the final whistle with the goals fairly evenly shared out, Stephen Butler the only player to grab a double.

Major drama at Alexandra College as a massive seven players were sin-binned as YM and Monkstown tied their opening game of the season. A spectacular first minute Town goal from Gareth Wakins’ reverse-stick was levelled by Mikey Fry’s tap-in after good work by birthday boy Richie Pedreschi. Andy Ewington restored the lead with a drag-flick for a 2-1 at half-time.

Jacob Webber hit home a corner in the second half, though, to take a point. YM played much of the second half with reduced numbers as they received five yellow cards. They went to Pedreschi, Webber, Cliff Bailey, Rob Whelan and Will Powderly. Nick Dee and Alec Barrett were the Town players to take an enforced rest.

* For Adrian Boehm’s photos from Pembroke vs Clontarf, click here; for Deryck Vincent’s se from the game, click here and for Emer Keogh’s photo’s of Three Rock Rovers vs Railway Union, click here

Coach: Gerry Wheeler (1st season, second spell)
Captain: David Bane

Players In: Gary Sharman, Tom Manning, Stephen Thompson, Hugh Kelly, Mark Sandell (all Kilkenny)
Players Out: Mick McGuinness (Glenanne), Brian Scully (Weston), Keith Crawford

Summary: Like Corinthian, the first three games should paint the picture of what lies in store for 2009/10, facing the reds, YM and Rovers all of whom are likely to be jockeying for IHL positions.

The quintet of new faces brings the Kilkenny contingent at the club up to ten though Tom Manning and Derek O’Gorman are currently tied up in the county’s inter hurling championship with Dicksboro which could run to early October.

Mark Ryan will continue to progress in his second year of senior hockey but the losses of Scully and McGuinness are significant ones. The former’s terrier-like tackling and the latter’s drag-flicks are hard to replace and they might find themselves slip a notch further down the standings.

First three games: Corinthian (a); YMCA (h); TRR (h)
Prediction: 7th

Coach: Arul Anthoni (2nd season)
Captain: Joe Brennan

Players In: Mick McGuinness (Fingal), Filip Jaros (Monkstown), Robbie Hanna (Bray), Gareth Carragher (Weston)
Players Out: Alan Browne (Weston), Daryl Carey (YMCA)

Summary: Early season has not lent itself to ideal preparation for the EHL with just competitive games against Suttonians and UCD to test their mettle given the postponement of the Pembroke tie on October 3 – they play a friendly on October 6 instead.

The back-log of fixtures will also provide a nuisance factor but the Glens will still be formidable proposition with Filip Jaros, when fully fit, a more than decent replacement for Alan Browne. Mick McGuinness adds to the forward options while Gareth Carragher and Robbie Hanna supply goalkeeper cover.

First three games: UCD (a); Pembroke (date TBC); Corinthian (date TBC)
Prediction: 2nd
IHL Prediction: Semi-finals at least

YM all but put paid to Rovers’ league chances last time out, drawing 2-2 twice in the league run-in and if they can continue their post-Christmas form into the 2009/10 season, they may have quite a say in the race for IHL qualification.

Jacob Webber was a big factor in that run and YM will hope Aussie imports Simon Mills and Todd Gill will be able to take up that momentum. Cliff Bailey also makes the move up the Dart line from Bray.

David Robinson and Andy Walker have missed much of a preseason that brought wins over Clontarf, Avoca, Railway, UCD and Bristol Uni but should be fit for Saturday’s tie.

They will hope that training and playing on the more player and spectator friendly Alex water-based will aid their quest. Patrick Good, however, has made the short hop back to Pembroke while Rob Anderson and Jamie Tobin are set to join UCD.

Rovers, for their part, have endured a tough summer which has seen Mitch Darling and Phelie Maguire take up contracts in Belgium, Andy McConnell move to Pembroke and assistant coach Lucas Piccioli move back to Corinthian.

Sven Galjaardt comes in from Holland while Pieter Steins-Bisschop lands in Dublin tonight in the club’s efforts to fill the gaps. Peter Blakeney and Mick Maguire are still in Australia where they contested a state final.

Rovers have had a decent pre-season, results-wise, beating Fingal and Cork Harlequins twice a piece as well as former coach Turloch O’Siochain’s Bristol Uni outfit.

Fingal, buoyed by the arrival of Gary Sharman, Hugh Kelly, Stephen Thompson (right) and Mark Sandell, face a new-look UCD in the round’s other all-division match-up.

Tom Manning and Derek O’Gorman will also add to the former Kilkenny contingent in due course but are still involved with Dicksboro in the current Kilkenny inter hurling championship which has the potential to stretch into October.

It will be UCD’s first game with John McInroy at the helm and they have already undergone an intense physical ‘boot-camp’ in their bid to escape the nether regions of division one.

Ronan Flannery is the biggest addition. An injury-free version of the Pembroke player would be an excellent addition to any division one side and the students will hope he can return to his form of two seasons ago.

Tim Hill and Ross Gribben have also come in while Stephen O’Keefe has departed for Railway Union.

In Saturday’s other tie, Frank Byrne gets an immediate chance to pit his wits against Arul Anthoni, the man he assisted last year, as Suttonians face Glenanne.

Paul Revington’s guidelines for international outfield players means Stephen Butler, Joe Brennan and Graham Shaw will not be on show at St Mark’s but there could be debuts for Mick McGuinness – facing one of his former clubs – and Filip Jaros (left).

In the ties up for decision next week, Alan Browne’s Weston debut sees Pembroke visit Lucan. A trip to England and international players stipulations means the line-up for the Serpentine Avenue club is currently up in the air.

Corinthian face an Avoca side who have been busy in preseason, too, while Monkstown should have too much for a Dublin Uni side, who installed Niall Denham as their trainer for the season, whose college term does not begin for another three weeks.

Neville Cup Round 1
Saturday, September 12: UCD vs Fingal, 1pm, Belfield; Glenanne vs Suttonians, 2pm, Glenanne Park; YMCA vs Three Rock Rovers, 2pm, Alexandra College, Milltown
Tuesday, September 15: Weston vs Pembroke Wanderers, 7.15pm, Esker Lucan
Wednesday, September 16: Corinthian vs Avoca, 8.15pm, Whitechurch Park
Thursday, September 17: Dublin University vs Monkstown, 7.30pm, Santry Avenue