GREYSTONES, winners of the tournament in 1990 and beaten finalists last year, are set to make another vibrant bid in the Smithwicks Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup. At Angle sea Road last night they saw off the challenge of Lansdowne to earn a place in the quarter-finals against Skerries.

For Lansdowne, winners of the trophy in 1991 and twice beaten finalists, it was a second defeat in the space of four days as they lost the League final last Sunday. And while Lansdowne fought back after a very indifferent start last night, Greystones fully deserved their win.

They went seven points up within a minute when, after Richard Murphy was just short with a penalty, a Lansdowne player knocked on and Greystones took full advantage of the mistake and Wayne Roberston got over for a try which Richard Murphy converted.

Thus armed the Greystones pack, with team captain John Murphy at his effective best in the loose, dominated the initial stages and their superiority and opportunism found expression on the scoreboard. Alan Keyes scored a try after a very good movement and then Richard Murphy added a penalty to leave Greystones 15 points clear after 28 minutes.

Lansdowne, however, fought back and with Paul O'Connor winning some good line-out possession, Lansdowne applied a lot of pressure and after O'Connor won a line out, Lansdowne edged forward and Rody Corrigan got a try which Declan Fassbender converted in the 35th minute. When Fassbender added a penalty just before the interval Lansdowne had cut their deficit to five points at 15-10.

But just after the interval Greystones again opened the Lansdowne defence when flanker John O'Beirne broke free and made a run down the left wing and scored in the left corner. Richard Murphy kicked a superb conversion to leave his side leading 22-10.

Lansdowne won enough possession to have made it pay a better dividend in the closing stages, but too often they made unforced handling errors and also met a steadfast Greystones defence. However a try after a tapped penalty by Owen Carroll with 18 minutes remaining gave Lansdowne renewed hope.

But Greystones, more assured and authoritative in the loose, held firm and a final assault by Lansdowne in the closing minutes of an entertaining match, failed to break down the Greystones defensive screen.

. There are three changes on the Connacht team to meet Australia at the Sports Ground next Wednesday.

Brian Carey, who had to withdraw from the side against Orrell last Saturday, returns at full back for Owen Cobbe. In the pack, Billy Mulcahy takes over from Barry Browne at hooker, while Neil Taylor comes on the blind-side flank with Shane Leahy moving from that position to the second row in place of Neil Culliton. One vacancy has been left in the replacements panel.