THE hockey was crisp but largely Unyielding at Serpentine Avenue last night when a short-corner whipped to the net by Liam Canning after four minutes earned Three Rock Rovers a Leinster Senior Cup semi-final meeting with YMCA (the modest holders) on Saturday. In what was rated the virtual decider, Pembroke Wanderers tried their utmost to survive in this quarter-final replay but failed to pierce a resolute defence.

The midfield resource of Rick Johnson and Robin Madeley saw Rovers' dominate most of the first half as well as the early stages of the second period. But Francis de Rosa, Simon Watchorn and Colin Kelly defended stoutly to keep, Pembroke in the running and Anthony O'Neill was required to save sharply from both Watchorn and Ross McMullen just before the interval.

While Canning was always a threat, he helped, too, to frustrate Pembroke's second-half build-ups. The pressure mounted on the right, especially from a thrust by Devon Donnelly from the back, but Robert Johnson and Andrew Walker stood their ground - and Rovers must now be odds-on to take the trophy.