MEN'S HOCKEY: Glenanne's determination to retain the Irish Senior Cup was driven home by their achievement in rallying from a 0-3 deficit to force Cork Harlequins into extra-time at 3-3 and then win the shoot-out (3-1) in the remaining quarter-inal tie at Tallaght on Saturday.
Pembroke Wanderers, having surrendered the Leinster league title to their arch rivals, will not relish their semi-final visit to Glenanne Park on March 23rd, nor will Cork C of I be charmed at the prospect of a trek to Belfast to face Instonians.
Pembroke, who have the mixed blessing of tackling Glenanne in the Mills Cup final next weekend in the mother of all psychological rehearsals, know they have striking power but how can they again cope with the relentless grinding reprisals that left Harlequins in despair?
The livewire Eddie Gash had put Harlequins two up after 11 minutes and when Richie Gash got a touch to a half-hit David Eakins drag flick to supplement the lead, it seemed that the holders were facing elimination.
There were further grounds for Cork optimism in that John Ahern and Jason Black were squaring up effectively to Stephen Butler and Graham Shaw, but with Ahern having to retire early in the second half, the home side could no longer be contained as Alan Browne turned on full pressure. Shaw snapped up two set-piece opportunities and the indomitable Butler sank the equaliser.
Although there was a Harlequins revival towards the finish and also in extra-time, Ian Clarke proved a valuable figure in the Glenanne goal, all the more so in the shoot-put as he kept out the first three Harlequins strokes. Wesley Bateman had defiantly denied Butler of an opener but then Joe Brennan confidently steadied Glenanne's nerves from the spot.
The four-way struggle to avoid the drop from the Leinster first division is going right down to the wire. While a goal by Dan Bolger against Monkstown gave Avoca further relief, they are not yet safe on 17 points. What may be crucial will be their final fixture against Trinity, whose 3-2 win over Aer Lingus leaves them well in the reckoning with matches in hand.
Trinity (14 points) have also to play Three Rock Rovers, whose 0-0 draw at Belfield means they are level on 15 with UCD, whose last game will be away to Monkstown
Annadale II regained the Irish Junior Cup with a deserved 2-1 defeat of the holders Pembroke II at Serpentine Avenue. After a scoreless first half, Stephen Stewart put Pembroke ahead but Ian Lewers levelled matters and despite the sterling efforts of Stephen Doran, the winner fell to John McDermott in the 69th minute.
ANNADALE II: J Moore; P Pollock, S Wilson (capt), K Patterson, P Childs, Mark Kendall, I Lewers, S Galway, J Mc Dermott, K Morris, S Dickson. Subs: Mike Kendall, P Jackson, J Steele.
PEMBROKE II: S Doran: M Tijs, A Cooke, P Priestly (capt), I Battle, P Good, S Stewart, B Dunne, U McGranaghan, D Good, M Hunt. Subs: A Alipour, S Atkinson.
