Devolution seems to have prompted a fresh upsurge in Ulster hockey, with no fewer than nine of the province's sides getting through to the last-16 stage of the Irish Senior Cup.
For Leinster, in contrast, it turned out to be an extremely sober Saturday with only four first division teams surviving. It will be a bonus if Trinity, the second division leaders - who ousted Antrim 2-1 at the second attempt with a brace of goals by Michael Harte - can make a further advance by beating Portadown in the remaining third round tie on December 18th.
Glenanne, one of the Leinster flagships, had the capabilities to end Instonians' interest at an early stage of the competition, but the Belfast club unearthed considerable reserves of strength to survive their visit to Tallaght, winning 1-0 with Mark Wainwright cutting through to set up Jon Atkins for the decisive strike 10 minutes from the end.
Graham Shaw, Alan Browne and Stephen Butler sent Glenanne pushing forward promisingly, but Neil Cooke commanded an unflinching defence. Butler was foiled by a particularly sharp save by Nigel Skillen as well as having a last-minute short-corner shot taken steadfastly off the line by Paul Hollway.
There had been hope, too, that Three Rock Rovers would once more conjure up a surprise, yet, although a stylish goal by Liam Canning gave them the interval lead against Annadale at Grange Road, the young Ulster-men dominated the second half to win 3-1. Shane Davey was again to the fore between the Rovers' posts but ultimately he was beaten by Gary McKee (put through for the equaliser by David Smyth), man of the match Chris Jackson (short corner) and Gareth Kidd (penalty stroke).
Of the Leinster sides who did make it through to the next round, it was only from an added-time short corner that Robbie Burns earned Corinthians a 1-nil victory over Catholic Institute at Whitechurch Park, where Murray Smith gave the home side some impetus, while Pembroke Wanderers registered only a goal by Justin Sherriff to edge out NICS at Stormont.
Railway Union and Avoca, 8-2 and 4-0 victors on their excursions south to Ashton and Belvedere respectively, will have tougher times ahead.
YMCA put up stout resistance before yielding a 2-1 victory to Harlequins, while Cork C of I, the holders, came through their testing assignment at Newry, 3-1. Elsewhere, Cookstown met defiant spirit from Monkstown before winning 3-2 but there was no Ulster power-sharing at several other venues, notably with Banbridge and Lisnagarvey being especially penetrating at the expense of St James' Gate and Aer Lingus.
