FOLLOWING their record equalling 17-0 defeat of Skerries in the opening round of the Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, Cork C of I's 38 goal jackpot from three miscellaneous matches will first be challenged by Harlequins in a Munster League game next weekend. Then comes the total examination involving Avoca when the cup holders visit Garryduff in a fortnight's time.
Perhaps significantly, while Alastair Dunne, the Hanna brothers and Neville Foott were piercing the Skerries cover extravagantly, Avoca played their two most senior stalwarts, Nigel Kingston and JP Murphy, at the back in their 2-1 passage at Harlequin Park.
The Dubliners controlled the exchanges, though the first goal was notched controversially when Galahad Goulet put the ball in the net after his fierce initial shot had knocked off Wesley Bateman's helmet. Young Bateman continued to be Harlequins' most defiant figure, but Trevor Dagg sealed the issue from a short corner before Philip Chambers made the margin minimal at too late a stage.
Probably the most committed team to be eliminated were Glenanne, who also lost 2-1, to Pembroke Wanderers at Tallaght. After some absorbing fencing in the opening quarter, a flurry of openings occurred for the three goals to be registered. Devin Donnelly, steaming on to a centre from Trevor Dunne, was sandwiched in the circle for Paudie Carley to execute a penalty stroke. Straightaway, Glenanne broke swiftly for Devon Kehoe to touch home an equaliser but Dunne found a gap from a short corner to leave Pembroke ahead at the interval.
While Alan Browne spurred Glenanne to press strongly in the second half, four corners and considerable penetration into the 25 yielded no reward. The Pembroke defence, despite losing Peter Young through injury, operated with much assurance, which will be vital against Instonians in the second round of the Nissan sponsored competition.
Of the other accomplished sides, Three Rock Rovers, Lisnagarvey and Holywood signalled their intentions to make an impact again. Although allowing Liam Canning a day's leave, Three Rock enjoyed a 10-1 excursion to North Down where Gordon Elliott, notably, contributed a hat trick.
Kenny Morris could not be contained as he hit four goals in Holywood's 7-0 dismissal of UCD while Lisnagarvey's resources were too much for Queen's, who lost by the same margin. UCC, in going under only by 3-2 to Cookstown, gave the most commendable performance of the universities.
The only replay will see YMCA at home to Down after Hans Fkelaar and Robert Fox earned a second chance for the battling Leinstermen, last of the great survivors.
