HOCKEY: Leinster and Ulster teams shared the honours in Saturday's Irish Senior Cup second-round ties, both finishing with four teams going into the third-round draw later this month.
But as is usual in cup competition there were a couple of upsets to the formbook.
Topping this would be the elimination of Pembroke Wanderers by Ulster Division Two side Knock at Serpentine Ave, which ended in a penalty strokes finale in favour of the visitors.
"We just did not perform on the day, it was as simple as that," said Pembroke manager Robbie Meaney. "Knock proved a very capable side and did all the basic things right, but to have been brought to a penalty stroke finish was a poor reflection on us. Yes, it was a bad day at the office you might say."
Yesterday there was some modicum of consolation for the Pembroke side when the beat Division Two side Clontarf in the Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup second-round tie, finishing 4-0 winners. But the scoreline was tempered by the lateness of their win, with three of the goals coming in the final 13 minutes.
It was a day for celebration for Railway Union in Cork on Saturday as they put out their fancied rivals C of I, who along with Cork Harlequins continue to represent the pick of Munster's spread of top players.
C of I, who led at half-time with a goal from Cathy Walsh, were brought back to level terms with an equaliser from Railway's Áine Jolly, and although no further scores arrived victory was there for the taking by either side.
When extra time also failed to decide the issue the resultant penalty strokes culminated with a nice piece of heroics from Railway goalkeeper Jane Coyne, who, after sinking their third goal from their fifth penalty, then saved C of I's final attempt to clinch a 3-2 shoot-out victory.
Corinthians found themselves 1-0 down after five minutes when Jill Coleman scored for visitors Victorians at Whitechurch Park, but they countered the situation by settling down quickly and running out 3-1 winners.
Genesis, one of the struggling teams in Leinster, beat bottom team Three Rock 3-2 to advance to the next round, but only after extra time during which Gráinne Howe scored the winner.
