Regardless of the outcome of next month's semi-finals, this season's Coca Cola Leinster Senior Cup decider will be a David and Goliath affair after the two remaining Senior B teams in the competition - Clontarf and Loreto II - were drawn against each other in the last four. The second semi-final pairs Cup holders Old Alexandra with Hermes in a repeat of last year's final.
Clontarf came from a goal down to beat Aer Lingus in their quarter-final on Saturday, with Eva Lawlor levelling after Natasha Hallinan had opened the scoring, before Gemma Chandler got the winner in extra time. Their semi-final opponents Loreto II beat Senior B leaders Pembroke Wanderers II 3-2 at Beaufort, with Australian Peta Gallagher amongst their scorers.
It proved to be a desperately disappointing weekend for Pembroke whose firsts were also knocked out at the quarter-final stage, losing to Hermes who were without seven first choice players. Susan McCarthy got the game's only goal after six minutes, getting a touch on Carol Devine's free from just outside the circle to flick it past Nikki King in the Pembroke goal.
It was a game that failed to live up to expectations, with few goal-scoring chances created by either side. Hermes goalkeeper Sarah Hilliard was rarely troubled by the Pembroke attack, who struggled to find a way through a defence superbly marshalled by Sinead McDonnell, but on the one occasion that her goal was seriously threatened Hilliard pulled off a top class save to deny Brenda Duggan.
Pembroke, who lost goalkeeper King 15 minutes from time after a painful collision with the onrushing Rosie Walsh, will hope for an improvement in their form ahead of next Saturday's Irish Senior Cup match away to Harlequins.
In the last of the day's quarterfinals, Old Alexandra went on a goal-scoring spree against Glenanne, winning 8-1 with Trish Conway and Tracey Skoyles both scoring a hat-trick.
In the Munster League, Harlequins suffered their first defeat of the season, losing to Church of Ireland for whom Jane Dobson scored the winner. UCC's match against Church of Ireland II was postponed.
An extra time goal from Deirdre Kehir, daughter of hurling legend Eddie, gave Kilkenny a 3-2 win over South East rivals Waterford in the second round of the Irish Junior Cup while Joanne Campbell got the winner for Pegasus II against Randalstown II in Belfast. Diocesan had a comfortable 5-0 victory over Wexford while Three Rock Ladies beat Catholic Institute 2-1 in their match at Grange Road.
