The supremacy of Pembroke Wanderers in the Leinster Senior League will be severely tested when they face Glenanne at St Mark's in a fortnight.
While Pembroke still lead by four points following their clash with Monkstown at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday, they were unable to score more than twice against a resolute, well organised side. David Johnston, particularly, has become a strong bulwark.
It was only through persistent channelling in a clinical game that a goal fell to Gordon Elliott before the interval and Justin Sherriff was up in support to make it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Powerfully served in midfield by Alan Browne, Stephen Butler and Devin Kehoe, Glenanne closed down Railway Union at Park Avenue and attacked resourcefully to win 3-1. David Shaw fired home his first goal at this level early in the second period and after Graham Grumley had struck a token equaliser, Butler's inexorable pressure yielded two set-piece scores.
Colin Stewart, though, leads the marksmen's chart with his four strikes for Corinthians against Three Rock Rovers giving him a tally of 11.
There was some prolific scoring in Munster - 26 goals in the three premier division matches - but the opening round of the Irish Senior Cup was relatively Spartan. Notably, in the highest pedigree pairing, Trinity got through only in a shoot-out after a 1-1 deadlock with Queen's at Santry.
Trinity are now at home to Antrim while UCD, with the defence of the Mauritius Cup at Jordanstown this week an immediate target, will face another trip to Ulster to meet NICS.
