Second half purple patch eliminates Men's Hockey

UCD Men's Hockey took a break from their exam study to play Three Rock Rovers in round two of the Leinster Senior 'Mills' Cup on Sunday but lost 3-1 to thanks to a 8 minute purple patch from Rovers. UCD found themselves in front when Timmy Hill slotted home against his former club after a selfless pass from David Quinn following the laters virtuoso run having intercepted the ball close to the Three Rock 25. They managed to keep this lead up to the break despite Three Rock persistence but Rovers found it hard to penetrate the circle as UCD defence, with he usual excellent play from Ronan Flannery, kept Rovers star studded Rovers forward line at bay. Their best chance saved by a diving clearance off the line by Ben Grogan. In the second half however Three Rock came back and early in the second half when their star Dutch import Sven Galjaardt scored from a corner given after a mammoth rugby style period of advantage. Eight minutes latter he followed with another as college looked rocked. College had the lions share of the chances for the rest of the games as Ben Grogan hit the joining of the cross bar from a short corner and Tim Hill missed from close range from a corner rebound he'd done well to get away. Meanwhile and Pierre de Voux scored when a one on one trickled under Ross Gribben and James McGann was just unable to digg it out of the goal. UCD take a well earned break from outdoor hockey now till January 9th, when they play Corinthian in St. Columba's college. They will however be competing in their first indoor competition in a number of years as they feature in the Irish Indoor Trophy in DCU next Sunday.