Monkstown into cup final

GLENANNE AND MONKSTOWN will contest an all-Leinster Irish Senior Cup final in a fortnight’s time after the clubs came through…

GLENANNE AND MONKSTOWN will contest an all-Leinster Irish Senior Cup final in a fortnight’s time after the clubs came through their semi-finals on Saturday, Glenanne beating Three Rock Rovers 2-0 at Grange Road and Monkstown ending Ulster interest in the competition with a 3-2 win over Annadale.

But for Ian Allen’s intervention two minutes from normal time at Rathdown, Annadale would now be looking forward to a chance to avenge their defeat by Glenanne in the 2007 final, but the Monkstown man forced the game in to extra-time with his late equaliser.

It was the second time the hosts came from behind, Andrew Ward levelling before half-time after Neil Hamilton had given Annadale the lead from a short corner. Allen’s goal cancelled out Hamilton’s second of the game, from another corner in the 63rd minute.

With penalty strokes looming, Ward produced the golden goal winner, finishing off a clinical Monkstown counter-attack. On May 9th, then, the club will attempt to win its first Irish Senior Cup since 1914, but they have the not inconsiderable obstacle of Glenanne to surmount.

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Having already beaten Rovers three times this season, Glenanne were lumbered with the tag of favourites going in to Saturday’s game at Grange Road but they carried it comfortably enough.

The game wasn’t yet 10 minutes old when Gary Shaw gave the visitors the lead, Stephen Butler doubling the advantage early in the second half from a corner with a drag-flick. That was the end of the scoring, Glenanne through to meet Monkstown when, once again, they will have to cope with the burden of being favourites. Irish Senior Cup – Semi-finals: Monkstown 3 (A Ward 2, I Allen), Annadale 2 (N Hamilton 2), after extra time; Three Rock Rovers 0 Glenanne 2 (S Butler, G Shaw).

Munster Peard Cup – final:Church of Ireland A 11 (N Buttimer 2, N Burns 2, D Hobbs 2, J Jermyn 2, C Sweetnam, S Parker, K Lynch) Catholic Institute 0

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times