WITH Lisnagarvey back home relishing their grand slam of Irish hockey trophies, Pembroke Wanderers and Cork C of I tore into a freescoring 4-4 finale to the interprovincial club championship play offs at Belfield yesterday. Second place was still at stake and it fell to Pembroke on goal difference as they had lost 3-2 to the champions compared to C of I's 5-1 defeat.
The Cork side, though, matched Pembroke all the way, making the more alert start to score first, sharing the honours (2-2) at the interval and leading 3-2 and 4-3 in an extravagant second half before they were pegged back to level terms.
Mark Black deflected home C of I's two first half goals from Derek Hales frees, in between which Francis de Rosa, from a Devin Donnelly opening, and Stephen Stewart (short corner) replied.
Nigel Buttimer put the Munstermen ahead again, from a cross by Neil Welch, but the irrepressible Donnelly set up an equaliser for Simon Kershaw.T hen a surge by Alastair Dunne presented Welch with a well deserved goal. Yet, although Paudie Carley failed to beat Nigel Bryan from a penalty stroke, Pembroke with Colin Kelly providing fresh impetus - kept up the momentum for Stewart to poach a share of the spoils.
In a frenetic finish, both deputy goalkeepers, Bryan and Dave Acheson, contributed vigorously to halting the scoring spree.
