Following their Leinster League successes on Saturday, Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne will have fresh zest for today's Stephen Doyle Cup final at the Iveagh Grounds (2.0).
Pembroke, though, needed their full resources to shake off Corinthians' challenge, 2-1, at Whitechurch Park. Indeed, a penalty-stroke save by Nigel Henderson from Mike McKillop at an early stage was a crucial factor. The save probably clinched the September/October player-of-the-month award for the international goalkeeper, though his team-mate Justin Sherriff must also be in the reckoning, having scored in all six matches.
Sherriff finished off a neat incision by Alan Giles and Gordon Elliott to give Pembroke the lead at half-time. Increased pressure in the second half forced Gordon Clarke to concede two penalties, from the first of which Sherriff hit the framework, but Paudie Carley put away the second to make it 2-0.
Total concentration at the back, exemplified by Pembroke's Colin Kelly, had been an element in the scoreline. Clarke and the skipper Ivan Ovington were foremost in the home side's resistance but Colin Stewart's industry was rewarded too late as he set up a reply in the last minute from Olly Close, the latest recruit from Tasmania.
Although still missing several leading figures, Glenanne's 7-2 defeat of YMCA at Tallaght may well have signalled a revival of fortunes. It was 2-2 at the interval but spreading the ball wide in the second period, Glenanne were more durable in the squally conditions. Graham Shaw put them ahead for the first time while Stephen Butler completed a set-piece hat-trick. Paul Fitzpatrick (2) and John Goulding also contributed to the seven-goal haul, which was a shade flattering. Robbie Fox and Eric Gierts had kept YM in contention before the break.
A direct-hit short corner by Alan Bothwell enabled Three Rock Rovers to beat Aer Lingus 1-0 at ALSAA to retain second place behind Pembroke but Monkstown had to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw with Trinity at Santry. All the scores came in the opening half as Ian Allen (penalty) and Brian Groves replied to deflected set-piece strikes from Christian Judd and Alistair Cullen. Subsequently, the students put everyone behind the ball to gain their first point of the season.
There was also a draw, 3-3, in a lively game at Rathdown in which Cliff Bailey engineered a Graham Dowling equaliser for Avoca with two minutes to spare against Railway Union. Paul O'Brien (penalty), Brendan Parsons and Teddy Lynch registered the visitors' goals while Galahad Goulet and David Hanna were earlier on the target for Avoca, who had Stephen Kinsella back between the posts.
