UCD Hockey teams fail to claim points in weekends encounters

UCDs Mens and Ladies teams failed to claim any points in the weekends Leinster Division 1 action. The boys had opened the season last week with a home fixture to Glennane and were making the short trip away this week to Monstown.

Gareth Watkins broke UCD hearts as he stole all three points for the Monkstown at Rathdown as UCD almost hijacked a point courtesy of keeper Ross Gribben's brilliant padwork.

UCD took the lead in the 20th minute when, fresher, Jamie Tobin robbed Stephen Cole on halfway, played a one-two with Robbie McFarlane before smashing in his first goal for UCD. Ian Allen tapped in to level with the last touch of the half.

Andy Ewington and UCD veteran McFarlane exchanged goals to advance the score to 2-2 before Gribben pulled off a string of saves notably from a penalty stroke with a diving stick save. The ball spent the rest of the match flying between both cicles as both teams looked to win the match but UCD were stung when a quickly taken hit out was blocked by Monkstowns Nick Dee who set up Watkins to nick the points with one minute to go.

The ladies on the other hand were having their season opener against locals, Railway Union. The expectations were high for the coming year with the ladies on the back of a Senior Cup win. The weekend fixture for the Ladies was also not to be however, and they lost out 3-1 in the end.