It was quite the turnaround for the northern university who lost out 1-0 in the intervarsities to Trinity. It is the sole second round tie to take place in Leinster as Portrane, Suttonians, Weston and division two table-toppers Avoca are sent to different corners of the country.

Avoca’s looks the most winnable trip off the back of their early season form as they travel to the seaside to play Bangor, recently relegated and struggling in Senior One without a win to their name.

Suttonians make the journey to Donegal to play Raphoe, never an easy place to travel, having pushed Monkstown close in recent times, while Portrane go to Limerick to face Catholic Institute.

Portadown is Weston’s task, a really tough tie following an impressive start to the campaign. UCC finally received a home tie as they were paired with Antrim while holders South Antrim play an Ulster derby against Campbellians.

It was one of four competitions drawn at the IHA offices on Monday. On the women’s side of the competition, Bray face Clontarf in an all-division three clash.

North Kildare are currently Leinster’s second highest ranked side in this competition and look a decent bet against Ulster Senior Two outfit Kilkeel on home turf.

Newbridge’s impressive start in division two sees them bring form into a trip to face Ballymena while YMCA debut in the competition against Munster division one side UL who recently shocked Cork Harlequins for a famous win.

2011 Challenge finalists Kilkenny have been paired with Saintfield while St James’ Gate’s reward for ousting Portrush – Dave Smith on the mark – sets them against PSNI at the Iveagh Grounds in the final eight.

Two Leinster sides contest the quarter-finals of the women’s Challenge, too, with Botanic welcoming Cashel New Inn for the first time in their history. Monkstown, though, continue to pick up tough draws, travelling to Parkview who are going reasonably well in Senior Three.

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round two (November 26): Raphoe v Suttonians; Cliftonville v Armagh; Portadown v Weston; South Antrim v Campbellians; Bangor v Avoca; Rathgar Chiefs v Queens University; UCC v Antrim; Catholic Institute v Portrane

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy, second round (November 26): Weston v Dromore; Portadown v Genesis; Waterford v Naas; Our Lady’s v Greenfields; North Kildare v Kilkeel, Bandon v Cork Church of Ireland; Suttonians v Wexford; Cookstown v Galway; Ashton v Knock; North Down v NICS; Victorians v Greenisland; Bray v Clontarf; YMCA v UL; Ballymena v Newbridge; Omagh v Muckross; Fermoy v Larne

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Round 2 draw (November 19): Ballynahinch v Larne; Kilkenny v Saintfield; St James Gate v PSNI; Limerick v Omagh

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge, quarter-final draw (November 19): Botanic v Cashel New Inn; Dungarvan v Clonmel; Enniscorthy v Kilkenny; Parkview v Monkstown

Some big guns will fall by the wayside in the men’s IJC as Leinster sides – after a harrowing 2010/11 season – face tough trips up north. 2010 winners travel to Annadale to face the current Ulster Junior One leaders while Pembroke go to Shawsbrige on December 3 to play Instonians in another high quality encounter.

Glenanne and YMCA have been among the more impressive sides domestically thus far and so they serve up the most eagerly awaited tie in Dublin while Fingal make a short hop to Suttonians. Lisnagarvey enter the competition at home against Belfast Harlequins while last season’s semi-finalists Three Rock are on the road for a sixth successive game in this competition, drawn at South Antrim.

On the women’s side, Railway are through to the second round without having to lift a stick in earnest as one of four teams to get a bye – potential threat UCD are another, along with Ballymoney and Galway. Perhaps the tie of the round pits the Ulster Elks against Randalstown in a repeat of their 3-3 draw two weekends ago while Old Alex’s hosting of Catholic Institute is another to vye for that mantle.

Dublin Uni are the only side to enter the men’s Irish Hockey Trophy at the first round stage as they face Queens just a couple of weeks after the intervarsities. Avoca, Portrane, Suttonians, Weston and Rathgar lie in wait in round two.

On the women’s side, Rathgar travel to Ashton in their first national competition since renaming from Diocesan. Avoca host Bandon in the other round one game as Bray, Clontarf, Genesis, Naas, Newbridge, North Kildare, Our Ladys, Suttonians, Weston and YMCA – in their first time at this level of competition following two successful Irish Hockey Challenge runs.

It leaves Monkstown and Botanic as Leinster’s main contenders in the women’s IHC but they will aim to avoid Dungarvan away. The Co Waterford club ran to the final with a series of home successes and are back on home territory again this year, facing NUIG.

The Men’s Challenge has handed finalists Kilkenny a route into the second round via the bye option while winners Portrane have moved into the Trophy.

Men’s Irish Junior Cup draw: Suttonians v Fingal; Annadale v Monkstown; Newry v Clontarf; Instonians v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v YMCA; Bangor v NICS; Dublin Uni v Corinthian; South Antrim v Three Rock Rovers; Cookstown v North Down; Cork C of I v Mossley; Kilkeel v UCC; Lisnagarvey v Belfast HQ; UCD v Banbridge; Bandon v Cork Harlequins; Raphoe v Railway Union
Bye: Antrim

Women’s Irish Junior Cup: Old Alex v Catholic Institute; Ashton v Dublin University; Loreto v Portadown; Lisnagarvey v Pembroke W; Queens v Hermes; Genesis v Dromore; Ulster Elks v Randalstown; Armagh v Pegasus; Corinthian v UCC; Bandon v Belfast Harlequins; Cork C of I v Lurgan; Glenanne v Cork Harlequins
Byes: UCD; Ballymoney; Galway, Railway Union

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy: Raphoe v Newry; Queens University v Dublin Uni…
Byes: Antrim, Armagh, Avoca; Bangor; Campbellians; Catholic Inst; Cliftonville; Portadown; Portrane; Rathgar Chiefs; South Antrim; Suttonians; UCC; Weston

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Ashton v Rathgar; Avoca v Bandon
Byes: Bray; Clontarf; Cookstown; Cork C of I; Dromore; Fermoy; Galway; Genesis; Greenfields; Greenisland; Kilkeel; Knock; Larne; Naas; Newbridge; NICS; North Down; North Kildare; Omagh; Our Ladys; Portadown; Suttonians; UL; Victorians; Waterford; Weston; Wexford; YMCA

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Galway v Naas; St James Gate v Portrush; Ballymena v Larne; Saintfield v North Kildare; Omagh v Parkview
Byes: Limerick, Kilkenny, PSNI

Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge: Monkstown v Gorey; Dungarvan v NUIG; Cork Wanderers v Clonmel; Botanic v Wexford; Tipperary v Enniscorthy
Byes: Cashel New Inn; Parkview, Kilkenny

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

The fixtures for September and October have been initially been released as per usual with the remainder to follow in due course. The IHA timetable – including the Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League – however will not be finalised fully until November when it will be known which Olympic qualifier, if any, Ireland will be heading to.

Belgium, Japan and India in the spring are the current options subject to continental qualifiers which could see some re-jigging to the national calendar but the first round of the Senior Cup will go ahead in the first week of October with IHL round one following a week later.

Glenanne begin their title defence against Clontarf on their return to division one while the Marlay derby between Corinthian and Three Rock looks an initial highlight on day one.

The Neville Cup is down to be played on the Sunday of week one with three all division one ties opening the competition, notably holders Monkstown against Pembroke.

Mullingar and Portrane are two notable inclusions in this competition having stepped up from division 4 to 2. The second tier gets underway a week later on September 24 with the Westmeath side playing their very first fixture at this level in a league which has been bolstered up to eight teams for 2011/12.

Going down the leagues, division 3 remains as per last term but division 4 welcomes back Corinthian III, Suttonians II and Weston II while St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park drop down.

Div 5 sees Skerries continue their rise back up through the leagues having bossed the sixth tier last time round while Rathgar II come up from division 8, a relocation based on their impressive if ultimately registration-scuppered run in that league.

Twelve teams will contest division six, Kilkenny II, Mullingar II and Athy’s second successive promotion adding to the table.
Division 7 sees the introduction of Portrane II; Bray’s first team will play in this league after their mid-season withdrawal in 2010/11 while Wicklow and Smithfield have stepped up as the promoted sides from division 8.

Men’s League structure:
Division 1: Monkstown, Railway Union, YMCA, UCD, Corinthian, Three Rock Rovers, Clontarf, Glenanne, Fingal, Pembroke Wanderers
Division 2: Portrane, Weston, Navan, Avoca, Rathgar, Suttonians, Dublin University, Mullingar
Division 3: Monkstown II, Railway Union II, YMCA II, UCD II, Corinthian II, Three Rock Rovers II, Dublin University II, Glenanne II, Fingal II, Pembroke Wanderers II
Division 4: Clontarf II, Pembroke Wanderers III, Suttonians II, Kilkenny, Railway Union III, Naas, Glenanne III, Corinthian III, Monkstown III, Weston II
Division 5: Pembroke Wanderers IV, YMCA III, Avoca II, Skerries, St James Gate, Monkstown IV, Rathgar II, St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park, North Kildare, Three Rock Rovers III
Division 6: Glenanne IV, Corinthian IV, Dublin University III, Navan II, Three Rock Rovers IV, Mullingar II, Athy, YMCA IV, Kilkenny II, Fingal III, Pembroke Wanderers V, Monkstown V
Division 7: Bray, Portrane II, Wicklow, Weston III, Railway Union IV, Avoca III, St Brendans/Phoenix Park II, Smithfield, UCD III, Corinthian V
Division 8: Bray II, Three Rock Rovers V, Pembroke Wanderers VII, Pembroke Wanderers VI, Fingal IV, St James Gate II, Clontarf III, Dublin University IV

Early season Leinster Men’s Division One/Two fixtures:
September 17 (Week One)
Division 1: Monkstown vs Railway Union; YMCA vs UCD; Corinthian vs Three Rock Rovers; Clontarf vs Glenanne; Fingal vs Pembroke Wanderers

September 18
Neville Cup Round 1: Mullingar v Weston; Monkstown v Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne v Corinthian; Avoca v Railway Union; Fingal v YMCA; Portrane v Clontarf

September 24 (Week Two)
Division 1: Railway Union vs YMCA; UCD vs Clontarf; Three Rock Rovers vs Monkstown; Glenanne vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Corinthian
Division 2: Portrane vs Weston; Navan vs Avoca; Rathgar vs Suttonians; Dublin University vs Mullingar

Sunday, September 25
Division 1: Glenanne vs Corinthian; Clontarf vs Fingal; Pembroke Wanderers vs Monkstown; Railway Union vs UCD; Three Rock Rovers vs YMCA

October 1 (Week Three)
Division 1: UCD vs Monkstown; YMCA vs Clontarf; Railway Union vs Corinthian; Pembroke Wanderers vs Glenanne; Three Rock Rovers vs Fingal
Division 2: Weston vs Navan; Avoca vs Rathgar; Suttonians vs Dublin University; Mullingar vs Portrane

October 8 (Week four)
Irish Senior Cup – round one
Division 2: Avoca vs Weston; Suttonians vs Navan; Mullingar vs Rathgar; Dublin University vs Portrane

October 15 (Week five)
Irish Hockey League – round one
Division 2: Portrane vs Avoca; Weston vs Suttonians; Navan vs Mullingar; Rathgar vs Dublin University

October 22 (Week six)
Division 1: Corinthian vs UCD; Monkstown vs YMCA; Fingal vs Railway Union; Clontarf vs Pembroke Wanderers; Glenanne vs Three Rock Rovers
Division 2: Suttonians vs Avoca; Mullingar vs Weston; Dublin University vs Navan; Rathgar vs Portrane

Sunday, October 23
Neville Cup Round 2

October 29 (Week seven)
Irish Hockey League – round two

It was the biggest day in over half a century, ending a 79-year wait for a national title when they stormed to the Irish Hockey Challenge title last Saturday in Belfield.

The purples reigned supreme in the stands as their growing youth contingent transferred over from a training session in Milltown with heavily-capped Irish internationals Graham Shaw and Shirley McCay to make plenty of noise in the weekend’s opening final.

They say Nasir Munir repeat his heroics from the 2007 Irish Senior Cup, scoring twice in a 6-2, showing his quick hands and trickery have scarcely abated despite tipping the 40-mark.

His influence on the club has also manifested itself in bringing a contingent of his protégées from his coaching in Sandford Park to the north Dublin club.

One such player, Emmett Lawlor-McHugh also weighed in with a pair while Mukhtar Ahmed and Ralph Billings also weighed in with a goal each. Kilkenny’s goals were recorded by schoolboy Eamon Walsh and former UCD club captain Tristan Lynas.

UCC’s wait for a national title continues as they were undone by South Antrim 2-1 in the Irish Hockey Trophy final at Belfield on Sunday.

Roger Gray’s drag-flick had them level but Ian Harbinson flicked high off a rebound to score what proved the winner before half-time.

UCC – for whom sweeper Andrew Gray gave a stunning defensive performance – had their chances to draw level in the second half, Roger Gray’s trickery creating shooting opportunities but Peter Catchpole and Fionn O’Leary were both nudged out when well-placed.

On the women’s side, Katie McQuillan and Katie Morris’ all-round excellence up top for Lisnagarvey were the spurs in a 2-0 victory over Ulster rivals Portadown.

They grabbed a goal each in an impressive success, the latter sealing the win in the closing stages after the former had broken the deadlock.

Limerick claimed the ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge on Saturday when they had far too much in the tank for Dungarvan, Fenagh Smith firing a hat-trick in a 7-0 win.

On the domestic front, Corinthian II claimed the Railway Cup title with a 4-2 victory at St Columba’s, emerging from a minefield of a top half of the draw which featured most of the big-hitters at this level – the likes of Pembroke, Glenanne, Monkstown and YMCA.

Youth and experience was the key with players like Neil Pelow and Ian Stuart being guided by skipper Adrian Missen, Miles Warren and Colm Blennerhassett. Gareth Davis netted twice.

The Rathgar Chiefs seconds picked up their first ever piece of silverware in their inaugural year with Brian Cleere – one of the major organisers in the new club – fittingly scoring the winning goal.

Another of the former Trinity crew, Cian Denham, bagged his side’s first two but Glenanne’s fifth team were not going to give up their Minor Cup up without a battle and pushed the Chiefs to a 3-2 scoreline.

On the women’s side, Corinthian V made it a trophy bonanza for the Whitechurch club as they denied Avoca II a second successive league and cup double with a dramatic 4-3 win for the Division 9/10 Cup title

Skerries IV did, however, get the coveted double in equally exciting fashion, needing penalty strokes to claim the Division 13/14 Cup.

Naas won their tussle with Swords in yet another cracker, this time annexing the Division ¾ Cup with a 4-2 victory, on a brilliant day of finals action at Grange Road.

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final: South Antrim 2 (Ricky O’Neill, Ian Harbinson) UCC 1 (Roger Gray)
Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Kilkenny 2 (Tristan Lynas, Eamon Walsh) Portrane 6 (Nasir Munir 2, Emmett Lawlor-McHugh 2, Mukhtar Ahmad, Ralph Billings)

Railway Cup Final Corinthian II 4 (Gareth Davis 2, Colm Blennerhassett, Adrian Missen) Railway Union II 2
Minor Cup final: Rathgar Chiefs 3 (Cian Denham 2, Brian Cleere) Glenanne 2

Women’s cup results:
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup, quarter-finals: Ulster Elks 1 (N Wise) Hermes 2 (L Jacob, J Burke); Pegasus 4 (C McMahon, N Graham, V Surgeoner, M Harvey) Lurgan 1 (C McClure)

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy: Portadown 0 Lisnagarvey 2 (Katie McQuillan, Katie Morris)
ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Challenge Final: Dungarvan 0 Limerick 7 (Fenagh Smith 3, Lorraine McGowan, Ciara Hayes, Karen O’Flynn, Jenni Lyttle)

Leinster Division 3/4 Cup final: Naas 4 Swords 2
Division 9/10 Cup final: Avoca II 3 Corinthian V 4
Division 13/14 Cup final: Skerries IV 1 Dalkey II 1, Skerries won on penalty strokes

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)

His side have lasted the pace more consistently than Saturday’s rivals, YMCA, who matched the Tallaght side step-for-step until the last month. Indeed, much of the damage was inflicted before the showdown at Glenanne Park last weekend.

David Robinson’s absence has been felt as they dropped ten points in March having previously let just five slip in their initial ten games.

Nonetheless, their finish this year will be a fifth successive season under Trevor Dagg in which they have improved their league position and they still have to secure second place to ensure three home ties in next year’s IHL.

For the Glens, it looks set to end looking a comfortable finish to the season despite four games in a week. Shane O’Donoghue has continued his progression and looks, not least as a worthy successor to Stephen Butler’s mantle as the Tallaght side’s top corner man.

The imperious Joe Brennan continues to put in tackles few others would dare to while the likes of Brendan Parsons and Mick McGuinness serve multiple purposes, notably at times as overlapping full-backs.

Stephen Brownlow has added plenty of goals this year in his maiden year with the club and is set for a first senior medal.

Last Sunday’s tie with Railway was indicative that the fight is still within them ahead of their IHL playoffs, hoping to secure a title which they feel has evaded them the past two years in controversial circumstances.

Elsewhere, the battle is primarily for the wildcard shot. Three Rock will hope to finish off what they created last Saturday in the return match against Pembroke and have a couple of players back in contention for places – Ross Varian, Garry Ringwood and Alan Bothwell.

It is timely with four home games in a week, Weston visiting on Tuesday night before ending with the double-up of UCD and Fingal.

Gordy Elliott missed last week’s game but always relishes facing his former club and could be an addition to add the magic to go with his side’s high proportion of possession enjoyed last time round.

Corinthian, though, can keep that challenge at arm’s length should they give under-strength Monkstown a double-dose of misfortune. Chris Pelow is now in Australia but the Town have plenty of doubts to nurse – David Cole and Kyle Good among them.

Railway are not out of the running just yet and a repeat three points against Weston keeps them in contention for fifth but, with two games extra played, they need favours from disinterested parties.

Fingal and UCD play the remaining game, the ALSAA hosts still smarting from the closing smash and grab steal by the students.

In division two, a replenished Avoca got back in striking distance of Clontarf when they swept aside the Chiefs last weekend and, with Ezra Handelman and Scott Wilkie back in tow, if they can do the same to Suttonians then it will remain game on.

The Bulls have the box seat but tricky ties against the Blackrock outfit and Trinity still to come mean they are not home and hosed.

Throw in another north Dublin derby on Tuesday night, hot on the heals of a tie with Navan, and the ravages of a lengthy second half of the season may take their toll.

Trinity need full points at the Chiefs to keep their bid alive though they have the bonus of not facing alumni Paul Tuthill, Aengus Stanley and Nick Odlum who all emigrated during the season.

Portrane, meanwhile, have a big day ahead of them as they take on the Irish Hockey Challenge final when they face fellow division four side Kilkenny.

In a full day of activities, the club’s youth section will travel to Milltown for a special training session on the morning of the day with Irish internationals Shirley McCay among others providing the coaching.

They will then support their club’s first eleven who have Nasir Munir returning to the Belfield stage where he starred in the 2007 Irish Senior Cup win for Glenanne against Annadale.

The cats, meanwhile, are a different animal to the one who competed in division one two seasons ago but do include former Fingal and Leinster U-21 man Emmett Hughes while ex-Trinity keeper Omar Mafoud is the last line of defence.

Keeping the lively Ralph Billings and Mukthar Ahmed will be a key concern as free-scoring Portrane recorded a 6-3 win in these side’s earlier meeting this season. Banbridge and Lisnagarvey contest an all-Ulster Irish Junior Cup final.

Two Leinster cups will be decided on Sunday, too, with Corinthian II and Railway Union II making it into the Railway Cup final while Glenanne V are aiming to retain the Minor Cup. They face the Rathgar Chiefs second team, playing the club’s first ever cup final and who reached the decider in slightly fortuitous fashion, receiving two walkovers en route.

Men’s Leinster Division One, Saturday: YMCA vs Glenanne, 3pm, Milltown; Monkstown vs Corinthian, 1.30pm, Rathdown; Railway Union vs Weston, 12.30pm, Park Avenue; Fingal vs UCD, 1.30pm, ALSAA; Three Rock Rovers vs Pembroke, 1.30pm, Grange Road
Sunday: Corinthian vs Fingal, 12.25pm, Whitechurch Park
Tuesday: TRR vs Weston, 8pm, Grange Road
Wednesday: Corinthian vs Glenanne, 7.45pm, Whitechurch Park

Division Two, Saturday: Clontarf vs Navan, 2pm, Mount Temple; Rathgar Chiefs vs Dublin University, TBC, High School; Suttonians vs Avoca, 1.30pm, Sutton Park

ESB Electric Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge final, Saturday: Portrane vs Kilkenny, 1.15pm, Belfield
ESB Electric Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy final, Sunday: Banbridge vs Lisnagarvey, 1.15pm, Belfield

Railway Cup final, Sunday: Corinthian II vs Railway Union II, ,
Minor Cup final, Sunday: Glenanne V vs Rathgar Chiefs II, 4.15pm, St Columba’s

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:

He scored from John Brennan’s cross after the Kilkenny man had worked a neat one-two from a free inside the 25 to finally break Weston’s defences.

Had their corners worked, it might have been a different story as a half-dozen came their way in the opening 11 minutes.
In a lively opening, Enda Tucker missed out on a one-on-one and had a drag-flick denied by former Glenanne club mate Gareth Carragher.

Weston were at a disadvantage, though, when Brian Scully went off with a suspected cruciate knee injury and another potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Once Hill had put a goal between the teams, they did fight back but Simon Pearson and Vikram Singh were unable to level matters from decent openings, though they did draw corners but to no avail.

Fingal 3 (Adrian Sweeney 2, Chris Neville) Monkstown 3 (Fran Lee, Gareth Watkins, David Cole)
Monkstown fought back twice to salvage a point from their trip to the airport as Fingal blew a two-goal first half lead which would have given their IHL hopes a shot in the arm.

They started in complete control, Chris Neville getting in front of Dave Fitzgerald to guide home a shot-come-cross for 1-0 and Adrian Sweeney got his first when Tom Manning went down the baseline and found the striker unmarked at the back post.

Fran Lee picked up a lifeline just before the break, mopping up a Richard Sykes’ rebound and 15 minutes into the second half, Gareth Watkins earned parity when he smartly rounded on breaking ball to snap-shoot into the goal.

He subsequently rattled a post with an effort so fast it was initially awarded as a goal before common-sense prevailed.
David Bane created Fingal’s third, though, from sweeper when he was able to simply push the ball 70-metres to find an unmarked Sweeney on the 25. He initially seemed to be driven well wide but he shot brilliantly from a narrow angle.

Monkstown piled forward in the closing phases, though, and got their reward when David Cole turned on a ball and scored. Another corner rebound struck Bane on the body but the shot was deemed dangerous and wide rather than the claims for a stroke to be upheld.

YMCA 2 (Marcus Richardson, Phil Marshall) Railway Union 0
Classy goals from Marcus Richardson and Phil Marshall moved YMCA back into a share of the lead in division one, getting the best of a tight battle in the second half.

A Jeremy Duncan shot over the bar and a Rob Abbott shot wide were the fleeting glimpses of goal-mouth action but the game came to life early in the second half with Richardson’s goal.

Marshall flew down the left flank, passing the ball to Johnny Bruton who cracked a cross into the path of the diving Richardson to get a reverse-stick touch into the net.

Bruton and Andy Walker worked an interchange to win a corner which, on the switch, Marshall dragged home despite Kenny Carroll’s efforts.

Railway belatedly came to life, emerging from their defensive setup with the game to chase. Peter English had one blocked on the line by Iain Walker, another by Andy Walker while Mark English went close but not enough to threaten a result.

Pembroke 0 Corinthian 0
Pembroke’s problems in front of goal continued as they went scoreless for a third successive game as they continued to reach the 25 but their play broke down from there. Corinthian did not create too much either as the game played out primarily in the central areas.

Sunday, Railway Union 3 (Peter English 2, Jeffrey Spillane) Pembroke 1 (Keith Crawford)
Peter English’s drag-flicks gave Railway their first win over Pembroke in five seasons, a day on which Mark English made his senior debut.

For the Park Avenue visitors, it continued a tough fortnight since the optimism generated by victory over YMCA and they go winless in four ties.

Railway were on top for the first quarter and capped that showing when Jeffrey Spillane scored. Keith Crawford broke Pembroke’s long goalless streak when Alan Giles got to the baseline and, while his pullback was intercepted, it was not cleared and Crawford picked off the loose ball on his reverse.

Mark English fired two reverses, the second of which was rebounded to Dave McCarthy who found a foot and Peter English scored the resultant corner.

Pembroke had plenty more of the possession in the second half, winning three corners to boot, with Railway switching to a counter-attack game.

From one break, Mark English got one-on-one with David Williamson and while the attack was snuffed out, another corner ensued which Peter converted for a crucial goal. It puts Railway back into IHL contention, moving ahead of the inactive Three Rock into sixth.

Pembroke remain just three points off the pace but may have a few nervous looks over their shoulder as they face potential-IHL scramblers in each of their last four games.

Men’s National Cup round-up:
Three Rock Rovers are the last remaining Leinster side in the Irish Junior Cup as they came back from a goal deficit to get the better of an under-strength Cork Harlequins missing David Lombard and Rob Hobbs.

Brian Hayes-Curtin gave the Farmer’s Cross side the lead from their third corner inside seven minutes but Garry Ringwood and Andy Macken struck before half-time before Ross Varian and Roly Budd completed a 4-1 win in the second half.

Like the Senior Cup, Ulster sides dominate. Lisnagarvey came back from the dead to beat 2008 champions Pembroke at Serpentine Avenue, recovering from a 2-1 deficit with two minutes left to win on golden goal.

Annadale held off a Glenanne comeback at Carryduff 4-3 despite late goals from Fred van der Weij and Paul Fitzpatrick. Banbridge complete the final four with a 6-1 win over Bangor. The draw will be made at the IHA offices on Monday afternoon at 3pm.

There was better news for the province on the Irish Hockey Challenge circuit as Kilkenny ended Ballymena’s progress at the semi-final stage, 3-0 with Adam Lynas scoring twice.

Portrane swept past Mullingar for the second time in a month to take their place in the final, Ralph Billings scoring his eighth and ninth goals of the run as they aim to keep the title in north Dublin – the final is on April 2.

Men’s Irish Junior Cup, quarter-finals: Annadale 4 (John Lyness 2, Daniel Nichol, Ian Hamilton) Glenanne 3 (Stephen Brownlow, Fred van der Weij, Paul Fitzpatrick; Bangor 1 Banbridge 6 (Simon Magowan 3, Philip Doyle 2, Rory Woods); Cork Harlequins 1 (Brian Hayes-Curtin) Three Rock Rovers 4 (Garry Ringwood, Andy Macken, Ross Varian, Roly Budd); Pembroke Wanderers 2 Lisnagarvey 3 (Dowling 2, Fallis), aet golden goal.

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, semi-finals: Kilkenny 3 (Adam Lynas 2, Dara Chadwick) Ballymena 0; Portrane 4 (Ralph Billings 2, Andy Carroll, Matt McCann) Mullingar 0
Final: Kilkenny vs Portrane, April 2

Bruton’s trio started inside ten minutes, snapping up a rebound after Nigel Grothier had parried Andy Walker’s initial flick from a broken-down corner.

David Robinson’s low drag-flick – taking a slight deflection – made it two but David Bane responded with a similar effort on the half-time whistle.

The second half became more open, both sides showing a greater commitment to throw men forward, YM in control as Fingal used their regular counter-attack style.

Marcus Richardson made it 3-1, finishing well from close-range after good work by Jamie Tobin and Bruton got his second the Y’s fourth corner from a switch-right penalty corner.

Fingal got one back, using a corner deflection from Mark Ryan to do so. But Tobin nipped in at the far post to divert Richardson’s shot goalwards and Bruton wrapped up his hat-trick after a slick move down the left involving Walker and Richardson.

Railway Union 2 (Peter English 2) Three Rock Rovers 3 (Garry Ringwood 2, Ross Canning)
Garry Ringwood’s pair of penalty strokes re-ignited Three Rock’s interest in the IHL places, firing a hammer-blow to Railway’s in the process as they dropped out of the top five for the first time this season.

The magnitude of the game was not lost on an impressive crowd, bolstered by a pre-match lunch for both sets of supporters – an initiative which has also worked to good effect prior to Railway home games with Monkstown and Corinthian.

They saw Rovers take a 2-0 lead into half-time. Ringwood’s first stroke came after Peter Blakeney, under pressure from Peter English, took a tumble in the circle after Stephen O’Keeffe slid to clear the ball.

Ross Canning scored for a second consecutive game but Peter English’s drag-flick made it a nervy affair for Rovers early in the second half. The younger English was sent to the sin-bin for taking a free he thought was his, denying Rovers’ a quick one of their own while Mick Maguire followed him to the side for another infringement soon after.

Railway were making all the running in the second period – Stephen West producing a string of saves – but were the hosts stung on the break when Canning’s stick was hooked back trying to shoot from five yards.

Ringwood held his nerve for 3-1 but English slung in another top notch corner to make it a lively finish in which Blakeney almost wriggled clear on halfway only to have his wings clipped when set for full flight. A late Railway siege, though, yielded nothing and Three Rock were back in the mix for an IHL place.

Corinthian 2 (Henry Micks, Chris Pelow) Weston 0
The reds raced out of the blocks to establish a 2-0 advantage which they held to move into fifth place – the IHL wildcard playoff place – for the first time this season, taking advantage of Railway Union’s setback.

Henry Micks got the first from a corner before Chris Pelow went direct for the second – also from a corner – and while Weston belatedly got up and running, they were unable to reel in the deficit.

Glenanne 11 (Jonathan Kane 3, Shane O’Donoghue 2, E O’Malley 2, Joe Brennan, Gary Shaw, Fred van der Weij, David Shaw) UCD 1 (Ben Dobson)
Jonathan Kane fired an incredible hat-trick of deflections – the third a peach from a pitch-length move – inside the first 12 minutes to effectively end UCD’s hopes before they were allowed room to breathe. Shane O’Donoghue added a fourth before the break.

Shane O’Donnell and Luke Chadwick were both sin-binned a couple of minutes before the interval and Glenanne took little time to build on their advantage, netting in the third, fourth, seventh and 11th minutes of the half.

O’Donoghue got one of them while David Shaw got the goal of the day, making a tackle in his own 25 before charging forward to finish off the counter at the back post.

Gary Shaw got a good individual goal from a tight angle while Joe Brennan netted a corner. Ben Dobson got one back, coolly lifting over Stephen Doran, but Eddie O’Malley scored two late on while Fred van der Weij tapped in to complete the rout.

Mills Cup, semi-final: Glenanne 2 (Shane O’Donoghue, Gary Shaw) Corinthian 0
Glenanne became the first side to make it into the Mills Cup final as Corinthian will rue a couple of missed chances which might have pushed the game closer at Grange Road.

The second finalist will be decided on Wednesday night when Pembroke meet Monkstown at Serpentine Avenue (8.20pm). A very tight first half of few chances saw one corner a piece, the Glens’ effort block down while Eddie O’Malley took the reds’ shot off the line.

More half-chances in the second period, Corinthian probably having the better of them with more corners going their way.

But Glenanne took the lead when Graham Shaw broke into the circle and squared to Stephen Brownlow who shot instantly. Ross Murray saved well but Shane O’Donoghue converted the rebound. Two minutes later, Brownlow robbed a defender and played in Gary Shaw who swivelled and struck home.

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, quarter-final: Omagh 4 Kilkenny 5 (Adam Lynas 2, Peter Cutler 2, Eamonn Walsh)
Kilkenny advanced to the final four of the men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, making it three Leinster division four sides left in the latter stages of the competition.

They recovered from a 2-0 deficit, conceded inside the first five minutes as Peter Cutler’s double and one from Adam Lynas made it 3-2 at the interval. Eamonn Walshe extended the lead to 4-2, Omagh pulled one back but Lynas reasserted the two-goal margin.

The Cats conceded another one and were worried when reduced to ten men for a time but they held on and now play Ballymena in the semi-final on March 5 on home turf.