Avoca face demanding replay at Garryduff

It's Garryduff revisited with mixed relish by Avoca this weekend

It's Garryduff revisited with mixed relish by Avoca this weekend. It was here last year that the Blackrock brigade let the Irish Senior Cup slide from their sideboard in losing 4-3 to Cork C of I in an epic second-round pairing but, at the same stately venue at the end of the season, the Dubliners carried off the Irish Junior Cup by beating Harlequins.

Thus, tomorrow, in familiar surroundings in the fresh campaign, Avoca tackle C of I in the replay of the Senior Cup first-round tie which yielded no score last Saturday. Again, it's bound to be a tight affair, for although Nigel Kingston and Enda Gallanagh threatened to push Avoca ahead, the piercing midfield play of Nigel Buttimer soon brought the Corkmen into contention. Indeed, ultimately, it was the excellent goalkeeping of Stephen Kinsella which foiled Alastair Dunne and Colin Hanna of securing an away win.

Considering the relative shortage in Munster of strong competition (C of I would benefit considerably by an all-Ireland league) this was a remarkably sturdy and tactically-aware performance by Derek Hales and his cohorts among whom, not least, Leslie Ruddock operated staunchly at the back.

Equally, the opposition was a measure of Avoca's steel, for they have now gone nine games without defeat in Leinster after an unsettled start to the season. While one of their stalwarts, J P Murphy, is doubtful for tomorrow's assignment because of hamstring trouble, there will be no let-up by his team-mates in the survival bid - even if it would mean a return trip to Cork to take on Harlequins. In the other replay, Kilkenny can now make the most of home advantage against local rivals Carlow.

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In Avoca's absence, Pembroke Wanderers have an idle day in the Leinster Senior League, in which Corinthians have more chance than Glenanne of joining them at the top of the table, if temporarily. Corinthians are scoring profusely enough through Colin Stewart to beat YMCA more handsomely than by the 2-1 margin recorded in September whereas Glenanne - despite their stout defeat of Pembroke last weekend - cannot be comfortable about their visit to Three Rock Rovers.

While Rovers went under 5-4 to Corinthians, they are rarely at their sharpest on a Sunday and Glenanne will be more conscious of their 4-2 loss to Three Rock at the start of the season. The issue may hinge on whether Gordon Elliott -leading all-Ireland marksman a week ago - or John Goulding of Glenanne get the more rewarding touches.

Also of interest will be which of the developing sides, Railway Union or Monkstown, take the points at Park Avenue while UCD will be determined to register their first win in the Premier Division at the expense of Trinity at Belfield.