Clontarf make early exit from Irish Cup

HOCKEY: Clontarf were the only Leinster casualties in the first round of the ESB Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, losing 1-0 to…

HOCKEY: Clontarf were the only Leinster casualties in the first round of the ESB Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Lurgan in Dublin, but Corinthian, Three Rock, Pembroke Wanderers and last season's beaten finalists, Old Alexandra, all made it in to the second-round draw.

Three Rock had the narrowest of wins over Portadown, Sinéad Kelly's goal shortly before half-time settling the tie at Grange Road, with a goal in each half from Katharine Little and Stephanie Hall giving Pembroke a marginally more comfortable afternoon against Ballymena.

Both Corinthian and Alexandra enjoyed 4-0 victories, Holly Warren scoring twice for Corinthian against Civil Service and Alexandra's Jeamie Deacon helping herself to a brace against Ashton.

The away teams prevailed in the round's four all-Ulster affairs, Omagh, Armagh, Victorians and Lisnagarvey beating Cookstown, Priorians, Coleraine and Knock respectively.

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Omagh's mother and daughter act, Ann and Clare Buchanan, contributed three of their goals in a 6-1 win, while Diane Topley got the golden-goal winner in extra-time to give Senior Two's Lisnagarvey a 4-3 win over first division Knock.

Belfast Harlequins managed to beat the University of Limerick 2-0 despite being reduced to nine players for a brief spell, but home wins over Ulster opposition for Belvedere, Bandon and UCC put three Munster clubs in to the second round.

On a thin weekend for men's hockey at club level, Three Rock Rovers earned two points away to Bray in the only league match played due to international sessions over the weekend, writes Johnny Watterson.

Elsewhere two cup finals were played on Saturday at Serpentine Avenue, with Pembroke Wanderers capping a good weekend by winning both matches.

Having beaten Three Rock Rovers 2-1 in the Wright Carey Cup final, the home side then defeated Glenanne 7-3 in the Stephen Doyle Trophy.

Neither Pembroke or Glenanne had their top players involved in the Top Four trophy as they were with the Irish squad.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times