MEN'S HOCKEY: MONKSTOWN WILL play Pembroke Wanderers in the Irish Senior Cup final. Of the two Dublin side's wins, Monkstown's 3-1 victory away to Lisnagarvey was the astonishing result of the weekend.
Really travelling to Hillsborough in hope more than expectation Monkstown succeeded in pulling off the biggest cup upset of the year and that coming after the surprise result of the quarter-finals, when they also ousted Three Rock Rovers.
It really was, given that it was the semi-final, one of the club's finest giant-killing performances in many years.
Although Lisnagarvey dominated much of the play and came back to equalise after an early score, Monkstown showed enough character to ensure Pembroke, who beat Instonians 4-3, will take little for granted in the April 19th final.
Monkstown opened the scoring after only 18 seconds, when Ian Allen popped up for what was a glorious beginning and although 'Garvey equalised with their first short corner of the match through Tim Cockram, Monkstown stayed with them before striking late in the first half.
A break away four minutes from half-time left Gareth Watkins free on the crown of the circle and his flick was enough to send the Dublin side into the break 2-1 ahead.
While 'Garvey pressed throughout the second half, the Dublin side's defence stood up well. But with 90 seconds remaining in the match, a cross from the flank was perfectly met by Allen and again his sights were sharp.
A reverse-stick strike rose high into the net for 3-1, with barely time remaining. But determined to the end 'Garvey earned a last-ditch corner with Mark Robinson netting. It made for a frenetic end but was too little too late for the home side allowing Monkstown make their return to Sandycove smiling like never before.
In Serpentine Avenue, home side, Pembroke, ousted Belfast's Instonians with Justin Sherriff claiming two goals in their 4-3 win.
Although racing to a 3-0 lead through Sherriff and John McInroy, Pembroke succumbed to Irish striker, Mark Gleghorn's two goals and another from Andrew Cousins for the Belfast side to stage a nail-biting finish. But Pembroke's reliable striker, Alan Sothern, not for the first time in big games, popped up for a golden goal to send his side through to the final.
Irish forward Andrew Barbour has decided to draw a line under his international career after amassing 84 caps and 12 goals for his country. The 30-year-old committed five years with Ireland, missing out on the dream of Olympic qualification earlier this year in New Zealand.
