With the halfway point of the season reached it's time to review the state of each Men's teams fortunes...

Mid Term Report 

Men’s 1^st

League: Started the League season slowly, picking up two goal wins against strugglers Kilkenny and Railway while drawing with Monkstown and Corinthians and losing away to Pembroke. However, a narrow win against UCD got them back on track and a 4-1 win at YMCA steadied the ship. Should have beaten Three Rock but escaped with a draw anyway, before rounding off the year with convincing wins over Fingal and Railway. Position: 1^st

Leinster Cup: Only one game played in this competition, a 4-1 win over Nasir Munir’s Suttonians. Face Corinthians in the next round on Sunday week. Position: Home Quarter final v Corinthians (18/1/09)

Neville Cup: It’s always good to have silverware in the bag at the midway point of the season and the lads have done exactly that with a Stephen’s Day win over YMCA winning them the Neville Cup. A quarter final victory over Monkstown was the pick of the bunch in terms of results while Shane O’Donoghue notched four goals in the competition. Position: Winners

IHL: Sitting nicely on top of Pool A, admittedly having played a game more than four other teams, the inaugural Irish Hockey League season has gone well so far. Annadale were there for the taking in October but the game could so easily have been lost as well so an away draw wasn’t disastrous. The performance of the season came away to Harlequins when a Gary Shaw goal secured a bonus point won. Position: 1^st (Pool A) 

Half-Season rating: 8/10

Top Goalscorer: Shane O’Donoghue (12)

Player of the Season so far: Joe Brennan. Joe has been in terrific form at the back for Glens and looks to have finally found a spot in the International setup. Captain again this year, he hopes to lead our lads to even more success. 

Most Improved Player: Shane O’Donoghue. Shane’s progress has been rapid if not frightening. The 16 year old has banging the goals in this year up front and looks completely comfortable in the first team environment.

Chances of more silverware: Very Good

 Men’s 2^nd

League: If the first team’s league start was sluggish, the second team’s challenge never got going. Two weeks in and they were 0-2. A loss to Railway with only ten men was explainable but the collapse to Corinthians – losing 5-1 – was a low point. Since then, however, they are unbeaten. Draws against Monkstown and Pembroke helped them turn the corner before a big 1-0 victory against YMCA. That has been followed by big scoring wins over Trinity and Fingal as well as a comfortable victory over Railway and a walkover against UCD. This puts the second’s in a good league position, with the title still very much in their hands, owing to their two games in hand. A big January is needed, as they take on 2^nd (Corinthians) and 1^st (Monkstown) in the next few weeks. Position: 5^th

Irish Junior Cup: Only one fixture has been played at this stage, a 10-1 win over North Down the day of the Ball. Next week see’s Bangor travel to Glenanne Park. Position: Last 16 home time v Bangor (17/01/09)

Railway Cup: Another Walkover against UCD advanced the seconds to the last 16 where they will take on holders Pembroke Wanderers in Glenanne Park in a fortnight’s time. Position: Last 16 home tie v Pembroke (25/01/09)

Half Season Rating: 7/10

Top Goalscorer: Enda Tucker (7)

Player of the Season so far: Dominic Cunningham. Since switching to sweeper Dom has looked a different player as the seconds are yet to lose a game with him there. His steadiness at the back has been a major factor in their recent good run of form and even earned him a call up for the Neville Cup final. Honourable mention to John Stewart at left back.

Most Improved Player: Alan Mcloughlin. The centre backs take a clean sweep of the mid term prizes for the second team, having let in only 6 goals in 7 games as a pairing. Al has made huge progression this year in moving to a more suited centre back role and is beginning to look more comfortable on the ball.

Chances of Silverware: Good   

Men’s 3^rd

League: This time last year the men’s thirds were well on their way towards their second successive Division 4 title. This year it’s the other end of the table they are pre-occupied with. This is largely down to the re-modelling of the whole team. Those part of the younger core of the last two years like David Keogh, Alan Mcloughlin, Shane O’Donoghue and Cathal Donohoe have moved upwards in the club while Keith Fishbourne has left for Corinthians, Ciaran Bolger has dedicated more time to umpiring and Jimmy and Gerry Shaw have finally retired. In the circumstances captain Ian Bolger has done a good job to patch together a side. They didn’t earn their first victory until 5 weeks in against YMCA but since then they have beaten Weston and Kilkenny in crucial bottom of the table six pointers. Position: 11th 

Half Season rating: 4/10

Top Goalscorer: Daryll Carey (5)

Player of the Season so far: Gareth Carragher. Since arriving from YMCA at the start of the season young Gareth has settled into the third team remarkably well. High scoring losses don’t always tell the full story – as Shay Given will testify to – and Gareth has been outstanding between the posts this season so far. He also kept a vital clean sheet against Weston to help his side get the W.

Most Improved player: Cillian O’Neill. Last year’s fourth team captain has taken the step up to playing regular third team hockey in his stride. Some good early season form was finally consolidated with two vital goals away to Kilkenny, the second one a contender for goal of the season. Another goal against Portrane almost contributed to more points but more than anything, O’Neill’s work rate is a key factor in his regular selection.

Chances of Silverware: Very Slim

Men’s 4th

League: The 4^th team faces a battle of survival in the second half of the season as they languish at the bottom of the Division 6 table. A massive game is coming up this week against Three Rock who lie directly above them in the standings. Their early season form was sketchy as the season took a while to settle down but since then good results against Monkstown (3-3) and St Brendan’s/Phoenix Park (6-2) have given them a chance. They don’t lack goals as the above results show but they need to find a way to shore up the defensive line. Position: 10th

Half Season Rating: 3/10

Top Goalscorer: Stephen Callaghan (3)

Player of the Season so far: Tom Williamson. Tom is a dependable player with a great engine on him. Has managed to chip in with a few goals this year as well which has helped his team’s cause greatly.

Most Improved player: Rees Coleman. Rees has really improved as a defender this year and has managed to nail down a defensive spot in the team. With a good eye for the ball and natural bravery the best is yet to come from the young man.

Chances of Silverware: Very Slim  

Men’s 5^th

League: The fifths were the only 100 per cent team in the Leinster league for a large time until their loss to Navan in the weeks before Christmas. Having played four games they sit top of Division 9 with 9 points. Promotion prospects are good for Danny McSweeney’s team. Position: 1st

Half Season Rating: 7/10

Chances of Silverware: Good