YMCA gave their coach, Oliver Kiethe from Cologne, a German-English dictionary for Christmas and it was with some delight that he added to his vocabulary after the 3-0 defeat of Glenanne in the second round of the Leinster Senior Cup at Ballinteer on Saturday.
For YM, who had struggled throughout the autumn to find their rhythm, this was a first success of real substance, ending Glenanne's run of eight successive wins. "Yes, we have been patient (geduldig)," said Kiethe without looking for superlatives. "You could say this victory was indeed significant (wictig)."
While it was an uninspiring day for Glenanne, they were left to admire YM's movement and positioning, including passages of total hockey that should now take them clear of relegation and allow no side to under-estimate them in cup competitions.
YM established control by halftime. Michael Fry opened the scoring from a short corner and, after his back four had been especially effective in closing down the normally penetrative Glenanne attackers, Stewart Taylor ranged forward to put Fry through for his second goal.
With Kiethe rotating his players enterprisingly, YM were even more impressive in the second half, notably when Steve McNeill broke the cover for Mark Vincent to increase the margin. Were it not for unflinching goalkeeping by Ian Clarke, as well as two shots hitting the posts, plus some showboat shooting, the final tally would have been richer. Overall, Keith Lemon and Will Powderly are epitomising YM's resurgence.
In the other clash between first-division sides, a full-strength Three Rock Rovers team squeezed out Railway Union, 2-1, at Grange Road, with Charlie Carroll - who else - putting away the winner from the last set piece of a festive spectacle.
Stevie Moulton, the Railway skipper, had stung Rovers with an exhilarating breakaway goal at an early stage and it was not until after the interval that Robin Madeley celebrated his return to action in finishing off a thrust by Garry Ringwood.
By now, there was greater depth in the Three Rock attacks. Still, though, they were caught on the break, notably by Padraig O'Brien and then again by Moulton who was shunted onto an upright by Angus Dunlop. Relieved, Alan Bothwell relaunched the offensive for Carroll to save extra time for another occasion.
It was sobering that three of the first-division clubs engaged against second-division opposition advanced relatively modestly. Avoca even lived dangerously in their 5-2 win against Naas, who went ahead after five minutes and it was no more than level pegging (1-1) at the interval. Goalkeeper Jeffe Booth and right-back Jason Weir stood out in the visitors' defiant performance.
Monkstown needed to work for their 3-0 elimination of UCD while Pembroke Wanderers were confined to a 5-1 margin by Clontarf. Only Corinthians scored handsomely, 7-0 at the expense of Suttonians.
Left to represent the second division in the quarter-finals are Skerries, who beat St James's Gate by the odd goal in nine, and Trinity who edged out Portrane, 3-1.
An interesting situation is developing in the Ulster Senior League, where two points now separate the top five teams. Banbridge stay in pole position despite their 2-1 defeat by defending champions Instonians on Saturday but Instonians and Lisnagarvey (both having played two games fewer than the leaders) are much in the reckoning, with Annadale and Cliftonville also in the running for places in the all-Ireland play-offs. Like the situation in Leinster, the heat will be on after Christmas.
Incidentally, a programme is beginning to emerge for the Ireland squad in their build-up for the European Championship in Padua in September, Notably, during the summer, there will be a trip to France and Belgium.
