The numbers game in South Africa leaves the Park Avenue hosts down in the overall tally as Alex Speers, Emma Smyth and Nikki Evans while Chloe Watkins is UCD’s one absentee.

Plenty of international talent remains, though, as Railway can call on Jean McDonnell’s aggression up front with Julia O’Halloran pulling the strings while Niamh Atcheler and Anna O’Flanagan are in harness for the students. A winner on the day is guaranteed to top the table on Saturday evening but Railway, with a game extra played, have the more pressing need for points at this stage.

Kate Lloyd has been in scintillating form for the yellow and greens in recent times and will need to be shackled.
Lying in wait are Loreto as they host Corinthian and have a dilemma over goalkeeper selection following Ruth Murphy’s impressive showing against Railway last week.

She vyes with Mary Harkin to fill in for Louisa Healy at the base of a defence who have provided a wealth of goals for the Beaufort club. Sarah Clarke’s thunderous corner hits have seen her top score with Johannesburg-bound Nicci Daly while Hannah Matthews and Rachel Keegan have also weighed in for the league’s most potent corner routine.

But the reds will be keen to nab a result in this Rathfarnham derby, pushing Loreto all the way earlier this term in a 4-3 result. Corinthian are a much improved outfit this term with a growing number of youngsters coming through to make them tough to beat.

Their win over Glenanne last week lifted them to seventh, a place above Pembroke who bounced back against Three Rock Ladies with a well-judged 2-0 win over their vanquishers of five days earlier. Emma Kielthy and Rachel McGrath got the goals in midweek at Grange Road for a powerful comeback to Saturday’s setback which briefly placed them at the bottom of the table.

Hermes is a tough place to go for a third game in seven days in spite of six international absentees as top performers like Mary Goode, Jenny Burke, Christine Quinlan and Sinead Connery power them on.

Three Rock face Trinity hoping them can get back off the bottom, possibly using one of the youngest midfields around as Clare Samuel joined Wesley schoolmate Lauren Haughton and Ana Fabra.

The students are in the rare position of the experience differential being in their favour with Rachel Scott and Maebh Horan high level performers in this division but with just eight goals between the sides this term in total, expect a tight battle.

Old Alex, meanwhile, will hope to keep a comfortable grasp on their top five position, facing a Glenanne side who were frustrated by Corinthian last week.

The Irish Hockey Trophy begins to reach the business end, too, this Saturday with four Leinster sides contesting the last 16 stage. After a number of successful years in the Irish Hockey Challenge, YMCA are aiming to be the first side to clock up wins in both of the two recently introduced competitions.

Travelling to Bandon is a tough ask, though, a side riding high in Munster’s division one. Leinster’s highest ranked side is North Kildare and they have a division to spare over Clontarf for their tie at Kilcock.

Naas, meanwhile, make it two ties in Kildare with their hosting of Wexford – the South East’s last remaining side. Elsewhere, the competition has mainly an Ulster feel to it with seven entrants left with two from Munster and Connacht.

Women’s Division One: Railway Union v UCD, 1pm, Park Avenue; Loreto v Corinthian, 1pm, Beaufort; Hermes v Pembroke, 3.15pm, St Andrew’s; TRL v Trinity, 3.15pm, Grange Road; Old Alexandra v Glenanne, 4pm, Milltown
Division Two: Pembroke v Railway Union, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Hermes v Newbridge, 1.15pm, St Andrew’s; Genesis v UCD, 2.30pm, Belfield; Corinthian v Loreto, 3.30pm, Whitechurch

Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round three: Omagh v Portadown, 2.30pm, Campsie Omagh; Greenfields v Ashton, 3pm, Dangan; Galway v Victorians, 1pm, Dangan; Bandon v YMCA, 1pm, Bandon GS; Naas v Wexford, 3.45pm, Caragh Road; North Kildare v Clontarf, 1.30pm, The Maws; NICS v Larne, 1pm, Maynard Sinclair Pavillion Stormont; Ballymena v Dromore, 2.30pm, Ballymena Showground

The tie was initially pushed back due to the intervarsities earlier this month, a situation which had the upshot of leaving both sides in a position to seriously strengthen their push for a playoff place.

The Booterstown hosts have saved their best form for the showpiece competition this term having already fallen by the wayside in the Senior Cup while three losses in the Leinster league see them well off the pace.

Goalscoring issues pervaded both campaigns but in the IHL they have had a carefree spirit, dismissing Armagh and Old Alex on 3-0 scorelines. As such, they lead the way by virtue of a bonus point ahead of UCD – along with Catholic Institute and Pegasus – on seven points.

Mary Logue, against the club she coached to the Senior Cup in 2009, will be looking to learn from the experience of nine days ago when the students nabbed a goal in each half to run up a 2-0 win.

For particular video analysis will be the corner moves as Hermes earned eight set pieces but could not finish. Sinead McCarthy should be allowed more pitch time, her recuperation limiting her to 30 minutes against TRL last Saturday, while Audrey O’Flynn is also back in the fray.

Again, taming the former Hermes’ stars Anna O’Flanagan and Chloe Watkins is key with the students’ confidence level sky-high after an amazing run of results.

In the other IHL tie to played this weekend, Railway Union will be without Cecelia and Isobel Joyce as they make their way back from Bangladesh where they helped the Irish women’s cricket team maintain one-day international status.

UCC graduate Julia O’Halloran will seek to plot the demise of some old friends as she welcomes her former colleagues to Park Avenue. O’Halloran, 24, was a mainstay of the College side during something of a golden period from 2007-2010, but now plies her trade with Mick McKinnon’s troops in Dublin.

Having recently withdrawn from the national setup, O’Halloran is now free to express herself more often at club level, and will be hoping she can guide her side to a repeat of Railway’s 3-0 win at the Mardyke in 2009, when she was on the losing side. While former team-mates Ali O’Regan and Ali O’Connor are still in situ at UCC, the majority of the side has a youthful look and is on a steep learning curve at this level.

With Loreto storming clear in Pool B, Railway will target a bonus point to put some daylight between themselves and Ballymoney in second place.

Domestically, Loreto and Old Alex is the marquee tie with the pair jostling for second place in the division behind UCD. It is a big moment for Alex having run up four successive wins against sides from the bottom half of the division without conceding a single goal. And they can make another big statement – to go with the Senior Cup win over Hermes – against a Loreto side for whom Katie Evans has finished up her short tenure in Dublin.

Nikki Symmons remains out but Loreto have coped reasonably well in her absence, winning each game to date, showing the strength in depth.

Trinity play Corinthian in a game which could lift the students into a share of fifth place with Hermes ahead of a game between the sides on December 3, having managed to garner seven points despite scoring just two goals to date.

For Pembroke and Glenanne, victory for either will push them to a relatively safe position at this point in the season. Pembroke fronted up well against Alex last week with Lizzie de Araugo leading their attacking options while Glenanne await the return of their cricket internationals.

Elsewhere, Pegasus received a big boost as Ireland was once again handed the hosting of a major tournament. The IHL and Senior Cup champions will host the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy – the second tier of women’s club hockey on the continent – over the Easter weekend.

They have been drawn in a pool with Belgium’s La Gantoise, Russia’s Metrostroy St Petersburg and Lithuanian Gintra Strekte Universitas while the other group has Belarussian, Scottish, Ukranian and Italian teams.

Railway hosted the competition last term in Dublin while Galway brought European club indoor to the country. With a men’s Olympic qualifier soon to follow this summer’s Champions Challenge I, it continues a recent run of high quality tournaments coming to these shores.

It could also be the catalyst to see Ireland earn a place in the recently rejigged women’s Club Champion’s Cup for a first time. Railway and Loreto’s performances last spring have seen Ireland move up to ninth in the standings, just half a ranking point behind Russia who occupy eighth – the lowest place to be included in the top competition.

Ten Leinster sides, meanwhile, take on the Irish Hockey Trophy first round with North Kildare the highest ranked from the province following an excellent start to women’s division two. They host Mourne side Kilkeel at The Maws.

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey League Round 3 (Saturday): Hermes v UCD, 3pm, Booterstown; Railway Union v UCC, 5pm, Park Avenue

Leinster Women’s Division One
Saturday: Old Alexandra v Loreto, 3pm, Milltown; Trinity v Corinthian, 4.30pm, Milltown; Pembroke v Glenanne, 5pm, Serpentine Ave
Division Two: Pembroke v UCD, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Old Alexandra v Railway Union, 1.15pm, Milltown
Sunday: Loreto v Hermes, 2.30pm, Beaufort

EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy
Pool A: HC Victorya Smolevichi (BLR), Grove Menzieshill (SCO), MSC Sumchanka (UKR), HF Libertas San Saba (ITA)
Pool B: ARA La Gantoise (BEL), Pegasus (IRL), HC Metrostroy St Petersburg (RUS), Gintra Strekte Universitas (LTU)

ESB Electric Ireland Irish Hockey Trophy, round two: Weston v Dromore, 3pm, Griffeen Valley Park; Portadown v Genesis, 2.30pm, Edenvilla Park; Waterford v Naas, 2.30pm, Newtown School; Our Ladys v Greenfields, 2pm, Templeogue; North Kildare v Kilkeel, 2.30pm, The Maws; Bandon v Cork C of I, 12pm, Bandon GS; Suttonians v Wexford, 2pm, Sutton Park; Cookstown v Galway, 1pm, Coolnafranky; Ashton v Knock, Knock withdrawn – Ashton receive w/o; North Down v NICS, 2.30pm, Comber LC; Victorians v Greenisland, 4pm, Queens; Bray v Clontarf, 1.15pm, Loreto Bray; YMCA v UL, 2.30pm, Claremont Road; Ballymena v Newbridge, 2.30pm, Ballymena; Omagh v Muckross, 4pm, Campsie; Fermoy v Larne, 12.30pm, Loreto Fermoy)

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

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)

Then, on Monday, they host Railway Union at St Andrew’s where a win would rule for the Booterstown hosts would end Railway’s two-year reign as Leinster champions. It is a tough schedule, one which will test their panel to the limit.

The Elks are a coming force in Ulster and while they look likely to just miss out on an IHL place this season, their ambition can be seen in the past couple of years through the players they have been able to attract.

Irish internationals Shirley McCay and Emma Clarke are recent alumni while French international Philipine Berly and Commonwealth gold medallist Suman Bala are others to grace the jersey.

Hermes travel to UUJ for that tie, competing for a semi-final date with Ballymoney, before letting their international contingent rest for the Railway tie.

It is the nature of the CPP setup that top players will miss key games but it is a strange situation to have 11 current full internationals absent for such a big tie.

Both clubs have shown the ability to roll with such blows – Railway completing the Jacqui Potter Cup win while Hermes recently stormed past Loreto. In such games, the likes of Kate Dillon and Jenny Burke become central figures. Loreto’s bid for the title is also put to the test on Monday night, facing Old Alex for the second successive week.

Caitriona Tipping’s return was a vital component in that success but Alex, in their final game of the season, may well have plenty of motivation as three points should be needed to keep an automatic IHL place alive.

Before that, Loreto face UCD on Saturday afternoon with their internationals available and are the only side in the top three for whom this event is priority number one.

Again, it is a tester against a student side bidding for fourth; they will have half an eye on the Senior Cup as they find out whether they will travel to either Lurgan or Pegasus. Glenanne face Trinity in a straight contest for seventh place.

The first three Leinster ladies divisional finals take place on Sunday in Grange Road. Swords contest the division ¾ cup and are one of the stories of the season in these competitions. Coached by Ciaran McNamara, the ALSAA-side initially struggled following promotion to division four, waiting until their tenth league game – in February – before recording their first win of the campaign.

But five league wins saw them rise to sixth in the division and produce fireworks in the cup, beating UCD II, runaway leaders of the division above, on penalty strokes.

Naas, too, are an unlikely finalist with division three form disparate compared to their cup form, making for an intriguing final.

In the division 9/10 contest, Avoca II are going for a double when they face Corinthian V as are Skerris IV in the division 13/14 contest.

On a busy weekend of finals, Limerick play Dungarvan in the Irish Hockey Challenge final at Belfield while a day later Portadown play Lisnagarvey in the Irish Hockey Trophy final.

ESB Electric Women’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals, Saturday:

Women’s Leinster Division One, Saturday: Trinity vs Glenanne, 11am, Santry; Old Alexandra vs Bray,1.15pm, Milltown; Loreto vs UCD, 1.45pm, Beaufort
Monday: Hermes vs Railway Union, TBC, St Andrews; Old Alex vs Loreto, 8.15pm, Milltown

Division Two, Saturday: Three Rock Ladies vs Old Alex, 11am, Grange Road; Pembroke vs Railway Union, 12.30pm; Loreto vs Muckross, 3.15pm, Beaufort; Our Lady’s vs North Kildare, 3.30pm, Templeogue

ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge final, Saturday: Limerick vs Dungarvan, 3.30pm, Belfield
ESB Electric Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy final, Sunday: Portadown vs Lisnagarvey, 3.30pm, Belfield

Leinster Ladies Cup finals, Sunday (all at Grange Road):
Division 3/4: Naas vs Swords, 2pm, front pitch
Division 9/10: Corinthian V vs Avoca II, 4pm, front pitch
Division 13/14: Skerries IV vs Dalkey III, 2.30pm, back pitch

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:

The men’s competition looks wide open as reigning champions Pembroke – shorn of four of six starters from last year’s final – are a much-changed prospect. They snuck through their group at the last, running up a 6-2 win over already qualified Monkstown to snatch the second final’s weekend place.

They are drawn in a pool with Three Rock and Glenanne. The Glens are driven forward by Czech star Filip Jaros who brings his know-how to the table while Three Rock have Liam Canning dropping the player suffix to solely follow focus on this coaching role.

He is one of four changes to their panel of 12 with Sven Galjaardt, Maarten Bos and Pierre de Voux gone from last year’s final-reaching panel. Colin Huet is their key man in the pivot role.

In the other group, Railway Union have strengthened since last year, Rob Abbott and former England international Kevin King added from Clontarf’s panel from 2010.

YMCA, coached by indoor master Trevor Dagg, are another side with potential while Monkstown complete a lively trio.

The women’s competition appears to have a clearer favourite in the form of the Kate Dillon-inspired Railway Union. She scored seven times in their Group C win in December, recreating her sharp-shooting which guided them to their first national title in 2010 when she netted five times in the final.

Hermes were the victims that day but their withdrawal strengthens their hand. Newcomers Trinity and first-time playoff competitors Glenanne make up their group.

Group one is a tough one to call. 2008 champions Galway have two years of European experience to draw upon with former Pembroke player Emma Glanville at the base of their defence and a number of underage Irish stars buzzing up front.

Old Alex grabbed a 3-3 draw with Railway to earn their place in the final six while Armagh are the sole representatives from outside Dublin city limits.

Irish youth talents Lucy McKee and Leah Ewart picked off six goals a-piece in the group stages and look to be their major threats this weekend.

Saturday sees the group stages with the top two in each going through to Sunday’s semi-finals and finals.

Outdoors, Hermes travel to Loreto in a vital women’s division one game late on Saturday afternoon (4.30pm) with both sides able to call upon their fit international contingent.

The Booterstown club, though, have doubts over the fitness of Audrey O’Flynn and Sinead McCarthy – her shoulder sustaining a blow in the loss to Pegasus – while Jenny Burke is probably still out.

Loreto have Nikki Symmons available and possibly refreshed as she takes a month rest from the CPP which allows her focus on her club hockey. Any winner from the game will go top on Saturday evening while a draw keeps Loreto in pole position.

On the men’s side, Fingal host Corinthian hoping for victory which would keep them in the hunt for a potential IHL place but defeat would seem them needing to make up seven points from their last eight games this season.

The reds will be without Davy Carson who was injured early in last week’s victory over Cookstown while Fingal welcomed back David Bane last weekend. Teenagers Mark Ryan and Shane Dempsey impressed last week and will hope to carry that form forward.

The Irish Hockey Trophy has plenty of local interest especially at King’s Hospital as Clontarf travel to play Navan in the quarter-finals.

The Badgers welcome back five players with playmaker Johan Casparson, Gareth Allen and Stephen Hardy back while Alan Davis and goalkeeper Emmet O’Mordha are available at the back.

Skipper Chris Booth, though, has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a thigh injury sustained in the previous round against Armagh.

The Rathgar Chiefs face UCC in a high quality battle though the hosts are shy some key names. Dan Needham is suspended for his red card in the previous round while top scorer Paul Tuthill is away for the rest of the season. Keeping watch of Roger and Andy Gray and Fionn O’Leary is the order of the day.

On the women’s side, Suttonians and Muckross have home advantage for their second round ties while YMCA are on the road in their bid for a third successive Irish Hockey Challenge title, going to Tipperary on Sunday. In the men’s equivalent, Kilkenny, Portrane, Naas and Mullingar are still alive in the competition.

Women’s Group One schedule: Armagh vs Old Alex (11.15am); Old Alex vs Galway (12pm); Galway vs Armagh (4.30pm)
Women’s Group Two schedule: Railway Union vs Glenanne (9am); Trinity vs Railway Union (10.30am); Glenanne vs Trinity (3pm)

Men’s Group Three schedule: Glenanne vs Pembroke (9.45am); Pembroke vs TRR (1.30pm); TRR vs Glenanne (3.45pm)
Men’s Group Four schedule: YMCA v Monkstown (12.45pm); Monkstown v Railway Union (2.15pm); Railway vs YMCA (5.15pm)

Sunday schedule:
Men’s semi-finals: Winner Group 3 vs Runner-Up Group 4 (10am); Winner Group 4 vs Runner-Up Group 3 (12pm)
Final: 5.30pm
Women’s semi-finals: Winner Group 2 vs Runner-Up Group 1 (11am); Winner Group 1 vs Runner-Up Group 2 (1pm)
Final: 4.15pm

Men’s Irish Senior Cup, Saturday: Cork C of I vs Cookstown, 1.30pm, Garryduff
Men’s Irish Junior Cup, Saturday: Banbridge vs Bandon, 2.30pm, Havelock Park; Annadale vs Corinthian, 1pm, Lough Moss

Men’s Leinster Division One: Fingal vs Corinthian, 2.30pm, ALSAA
Women’s Leinster Division One: Loreto vs Hermes, 4.30pm, Beaufort

Men’s Irish Hockey Trophy, Saturday: Rathgar Chiefs vs UCC, 2pm, High School; South Antrim vs Antrim, 2.30pm, Laurel Hill Sportszone; Navan vs Clontarf, 2.30pm, Kings Hospital; Belfast Harlequins vs Portadown, 2.30pm, Deramore Park

ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, Saturday:
Round One: Ashton vs Wexford, 1pm, Ashton School Blackrock
Round Two: Suttonians vs Bandon, 3pm, Sutton Park; Lisnagarvey vs Omagh, 2.30pm, Hillsborough; NICS vs Dromore, 1pm, Stormont; NUIG vs Portadown, 1.15pm, Dangan; Cookstown vs North Kildare, 2.30pm, Coolnafranky; Muckross vs Victorians, 2pm, Teresian School

Men’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Saturday:
Round Two: Kilkenny vs PSNI, 2pm, Kilkenny College
Round Three: Portrane vs Down, 2.30pm, RCSI; Naas vs Mullingar, 12pm, Caragh Road; Ballymena vs Portrush, 1pm, Ballymena Showgrounds

ESB Women’s Irish Hockey Challenge, Saturday: Banbridge vs Limerick, 1pm, Havelock Park; Dungarvan vs Monkstown, 3pm, St Augustine’s College
Sunday: Tipperary vs YMCA, 1.30pm, Cannon Hayes Sports Ground; Clonmel vs Enniscorthy, 1pm, Rockwell College