Before their Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup first round game against Portadown on Saturday UCC manager Gillian Harte had picked Jill Orbinson out as the biggest single threat to the students' hopes of repeating last year's victory in the cup over the Ulster side.
Orbinson, who was recently promoted from the Irish under-21s to the senior panel by coach Riet Kuper, is one of her province's most prolific goalscorers but on Saturday a courageous UCC defensive display had kept her scoreless . . . until 15 seconds from the end. Portadown won a short corner and Orbinson pounced to break UCC hearts and saved her team from a marathon trip south to Cork for a replay.
In Dublin the team that beat UCC in last year's semi-finals, Old Alexandra, were involved in an equally tense affair against Loreto. Sarah Scott gave Loreto the lead after 20 minutes but a superb solo effort from Trish Conway levelled the game and Alex clinched their place in the second round with goals from Tracey Skoyles and Jan Perrin in extra time.
Pegasus player-coach Jeanette Turner described their game against Pembroke Wanderers in Belfast as their toughest of the season to date but when a 4-0 victory is regarded as "tough" it gives you some idea of what kind of season the cup holders are having. To their credit Pembroke kept Pegasus scoreless until the 32nd minute, when Irish international Claire McMahon broke the deadlock with a shot from the edge of the circle. Two more second half goals from former international Hilda Beamish and one from Tamara Stronge killed the game off.
Muckross forward Orla Bell is fast turning in to a one-woman Pegasus-like goal machine herself - on Saturday she scored all of her side's five goals in their win away to North Down, bringing her personal tally to eight goals in just seven days. Harlequins' Karen O'Brien came close to matching Bell's feat, scoring half the Munster champions' goals in their 8-0 win against UCG in Dangan, where Church of Ireland made it a Munster double over Connacht opposition by beating Galway 4-2.
Glenanne and Railway Union must meet again next Saturday after their tie ended in a 1-1 draw in Tallaght - the reward for the victors will be a trip to Coleraine in the second round.
The shortest straw to emerge from the hat had Bandon's name on it - they must head for Belfast on December 12th to take on Pegasus. Four of the eight second round games pair Ulster and Leinster teams - Old Alexandra meet Portadown at home; Muckross also have a home tie, against Victorians and Hermes, the 1997 cup winners, travel north to take on Ards.
Hermes replaced Loreto on top of the Leinster Senior A table on Saturday by beating Trinity 6-0 at Belfield, with Jenny Burke scoring three of their goals.
