THERE can be no doubt that Pembroke Wanderers made the most stirring impact in the Nissan sponsored Irish Senior Cup quarter finals with their 4-2 demolition of Holywood at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday.
Most games of hockey these days between well matched teams need an early goal to set them alight. This was the case when Kevin Lunn shot Holywood in front in the first minute. Kenny Morris was barely prevented by a stunning block by Nigel Henderson from increasing the lead and then Pembroke started motoring, giving the most spectacular midfield performance of the season.
Inspired by Devin Donnelly, the ball was spread widely and inventively by the four pacey midfielders, among whom the unflinching Turlough O Siochain had his best match since he joined the club a year ago. Holywood, with Kyle Thompson and Geoff Clarke to the fore, managed to hold out until Pembroke earned their fifth short corner early in the second half and Francis de Rosa put the finishing touch to a finely worked set piece.
The home side were now the total aggressors, yet it needed ingenuity to break the Holywood defence a second time as Paudie Carley took a pass out on the right and his centre was nicked inside the far post with the reverse stick by Ian Battle.
Although Morris was largely subdued by Duncan McKeen, there was some menace in the occasional Holywood counter thrust and when they gained their first short corner in the 60th minute, a shot by Clarke yielded a penalty stroke which Michael Irvine converted to make it 2-2 and ultimately forced the game into extra time.
Holywood, though, were a spent outfit as Pembroke regained the initiative for Stephen Stewart to score with his lethal drag flick and the winning margin was enhanced in the final minute with a skilfully taken goal by Simon Kershaw.
Lisnagarvey encountered stout; resistance from Belvedere in the first half of the quarter final in Cork but the powerful Lisburn side emerged 3-0 winners with goals by Robbie Taylor, Jimmy Kirkwood and Julian Stevenson.
Banbridge also were too accomplished for Raphoe at Havelock Park, with Rory Madeley giving the home team a 2-0 interval lead before Vincent Devenney got one back for the Donegal visitors - but too late.
In contrast to the Pembroke match, there was not a lot of spark in the tie at Park Avenue which was barren at the end of 70 minutes. However, Railway finished as they had started in forcing three short corners in the dying exchanges of extra-time and with half a minute left, a shot by Paul O'Brien was saved by Peter Spencer but the ball went sideways for Stephen Moulton to sink the winner.
