HOCKEY ROUND-UPS:GLENANNE OPENED up the Irish Senior Cup competition with a goal in the second half from international Stephen Butler at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday. Butler's drag flick against last year's champions, Pembroke, knocks them out and clears the way for the Tallaght side to focus in on another trophy and possible European adventure following on from their success in Paris a couple of seasons ago.
For Pembroke, it means they must reassess their goals for the season, with the 1-0 loss against one of their greatest rivals a tough defeat to take. Once again the international-laden Dublin side would have been strong favourites to set the standard right to the end as they had done for the past two seasons.
As usual between the two teams, the match was a tight contest with both sides earning a couple of set-pieces each. Butler converted his team’s second in the 57th minute after a match of niggling and delays, during which Glenanne closed down space and Pembroke’s runners to effectively spoil and feed of the scraps. It was one of only four games to go ahead in the frost-hit eight-match schedule.
Matches up north at Instonians, Mossley and Raphoe, as well as the Three Rock Rovers meeting with Cookstown at Grange Road, were all postponed due to snow or frost. They are to be rescheduled early this week.
Pembroke’s disappointment was matched by Cork C of I, who arrived to Corinthians in the hope of staking a claim in the last eight. But Corinthians’ South African international Darren Kimfley with two goals, along with Chris Pelow and Brian Doherty outscored Ireland’s John Jermyn and Nick Burns in a 4-3 win.
There was less joy for the other two Dublin clubs in action. Kilkeel grabbed a 3-2 win over YMCA. Goals from David Robinson and Andrew Walker weren’t enough to secure a place in the next round as Kilkeel’s Gareth Russell struck twice along with William Annett.
Fingal also fell by a goal to Hillsborough’s Lisnagarvey at the airport. One strike from Paddy Gahan gave Fingal the lead but it wasn’t enough for the Dublin side’s survival as Greg Thompson netted two for ’Garvey to advance through to the next round.
IRISH SENIOR CUP: Second round: Corinthains4 (D Kimfley 2, C Pelow, B Doherty) Cork C of I(J Jermyn 2, N Burns); Pembroke 0 Glenanne 1(S Butler); Fingal 1 Lisnagarvey 2; Kilkeel 3(G Russell, W Annett 2) YMCA 2(D Robinson, A Walker). Instonians v Banbridge; Mossley v Annadale, Raphoe v Monkstown, TRR v Cookstown– all postponed.
MUNSTER SENIOR CUP: First round: Catholic Institute 3(E Calendar, E Flemming, J O'Sullivan), UCC 1(S Sweetman).
