IHL goes down to the wire

All four of the men’s semi-final places are still up for grabs as the pool stages of the inaugural Irish Hockey League look set to reach a dramatic conclusion tomorrow. The hit-off times have been streamlined for each pool, and with six teams mathematically in contention for the coveted four spots – and the curveball of bonus points and goal difference also in the mix – the permutations are practically endless. Just three points separate as many teams in each pool, and with four points potentially on the table in every game. The marquee clash in Pool B (all games 3.30pm) comes at Grange Road, where table-toppers Cork Church of Ireland meet second-placed Three Rock Rovers, who are a point behind. A draw will be enough for C of I, who will be looking for their first piece of national silverware since their 2003 win in the Club Championships, the predecessor to this tournament. But having exited the Irish Senior Cup in the early rounds at the hands of Pembroke Wanderers, Stephen Jackson’s side will be looking to make a statement by getting a win on the road to top the pool. They will have to do so without skipper Phil Smith, who is out for the remainder of the season with a broken wrist, while Rovers will be minus decorated Irish international Phelie Maguire, who is doing a second stint of volunteer work as a human rights observer in Palestinean West Bank. Rovers will be hoping to run into some form ahead of their EuroHockey League last 16 assignment in Germany later this month, particularly given they relinquished their Leinster league title last weekend. The other side in contention is Banbridge, who have the same win/loss ratio as the top two but are three points off the pace due to their inability to accrue a single bonus point so far.

Only a win against an in-form Monkstown at Havelock Park will do for them, then they must hope things go their way in Dublin. Lisnagarvey’s meeting with Fingal is academic, bar probably deciding who claims the wooden spoon. Things are similarly opaque in Pool A (all games 3pm), where Annadale’s crushing 4-0 win at Cookstown on Tuesday – which ended a 22-game unbeaten home run for the Coolnafranky outfit – has put them in the driving seat in a pool that seemed destined to be controlled by Glenanne. The ‘Dale are the only unbeaten side left in the competition, though coach Andy Smyth insists they are in a transition period having won five straight Ulster titles from 2002-07. Nonetheless, they will head to Serpentine Avenue tomorrow in hope of relegating Pembroke to IHL also-rans, while second-placed Glens welcome Cookstown to St Mark’s knowing that they must match Pembroke’s result to advance. Cookstown and Instonians – who travel to winless Cork Harlequins – are both out of contention. In the women’s competition, Leinster duo Hermes and Loreto are in the box seats as both have four-point leads at the top of their respective pools. Pool A is a three-horse race, with Loreto leading the way on 15 points with Railway Union and Pegasus both four behind. Loreto travel to second-placed Railway, who are on cloud nine after securing their first Leinster title after a century of existence earlier this week, while Pegs host Cork C of I, albeit at Banbridge’s Havelock Park rather than their usual home at Queens University. Pegs will go through if they better Railway’s result, while the only way Loreto can falter is if the other two claim bonus-point wins and the Belfast outfit do enough to make up the goal difference. Both games will hit off at 5.30pm, though Randalstown’s meeting with Belfast Harlequins goes ahead three hours earlier as it has no implications for the qualification spots. Pool B (all games 1pm) has four teams in with a shout, though Hermes – who head Ballymoney by four points with UCD and Cork Harlequins a further point back – are already certain to progress.

UCD and Quins will nonetheless be looking for a favour from the Booterstown outfit, who can reignite both sides’ chances provided they avoid defeat at home to ‘Money. Quins have the easier task on paper, hosting basement side Armagh, who have had a rotten 2008/09 and are without a coach after dispensing with Neil Madeley’s services mid-season. They will have Eimear Cregan back in harness up front after a long injury layoff, and will need the Irish international skipper to have her eye in as they must better UCD’s showing away to Pembroke to stand any chance. However, should ‘Money manage to chalk up a bonus-point win, they will join Hermes in the last four and render the other results academic. Domestically, Belvedere must beat Catholic Institute at home to avoid the drop in the Munster women’s league, while UCC go in search of the second part of a potential treble as they head to Limerick for the Examiner Cup final against Institute. Irish Hockey League Round 5 Men’s Pool A (all games 3pm): Glenanne vs Cookstown (St Mark’s); Cork Harlequins vs Instonians (Harlequin Park); Pembroke Wanderers vs Annadale (Serpentine Avenue). Men’s Pool B (all games 3.30pm): Three Rock Rovers vs Cork C of I (Grange Road); Banbridge vs Monkstown (Havelock Park); Lisnagarvey vs Fingal (Hillsborough). Women’s Pool A: Pegasus vs Cork C of I (Havelock Park, 5.30pm); Railway Union vs Loreto (Park Avenue, 5.30pm); Randalstown vs Belfast Harlequins (Antrim Forum, 2.30pm). Women’s Pool B (all games 1pm): Hermes vs Ballymoney (UCD); Cork Harlequins vs Armagh (Harlequin Park); Pembroke Wanderers vs UCD (Serpentine Avenue). Munster Women’s Div 1: Belvedere vs Catholic Institute (Ballincollig CS, 2.45pm) Sunday: Women’s Examiner Cup final: Catholic Institute vs UCC (Rosbrien, 3.45pm) Munster Men’s Div 1: Cork Harlequins vs Catholic Institute (Harlequin Park, 2pm)