Men's Hockey all-Ireland Championship: Goals in the dying minutes of Saturday's first-leg ties in the quarter-finals of the all-Ireland Championship left interesting permutations for the return matches on April 26th.
The most hectic finish came at Tallaght where Glenanne, having swept into a startling 2-0 lead against Lisnagarvey, conceded a touch by Kevin Lunn but then sprang back to make it 3-1 from a penalty stroke converted by the resourceful John Brennan following a short-corner skirmish on the final hooter.
A huge role in this result was performed by Ian Clarke, the Glenanne (and national squad number three) goalkeeper. He refused to be beaten in the opening 15 minutes from a succession of short corners by Philip Stirling, the hat-trick match-winner for Lisnagarvey in the Irish Senior Cup final, and Clarke also foiled Stirling from the penalty spot.
This fine save came at a stage when the Ulstermen were hotly in pursuit of the two second-half goals scored by Alan Goulding, both from breakaways, with the final passes being delivered by John Goulding and Clinton Murphy.
The sharpness of these strikes stunned Lisnagarvey but there is no doubt that Errol Lutton and company will respond with greater concentration in a bid to make up the leeway at Blaris.
Cork Harlequins, the defeated cup finalists, may have to surrender their championship title too, for they face a demanding task to make up a 2-1 deficit suffered at home to Annadale. It was only 30 seconds from the end when Ian Hamilton lobbed the second away goal.
Hamilton had given the visitors a first-half lead and although battling midfielder Paul Lombard equalised from a short-corner deflection, it was significant blow when he had to leave the field with a back injury.
A deft strike in each half by John Jermyn gave Cork C of I the most clear-cut win of the day as they held Corinthians scoreless at Whitechurch Park, while Three Rock Rovers also went close to recording an away success, only for Chris Barnes to snatch a 69th-minute reply for Instonians to make it 2-2 at Banbridge.
Barnes, Ulster's top marksman, had put his side ahead by the interval but Rovers deservedly went 2-1 up through Peter McConnell (corner) and from a reverse-stick shot by Phelie Maguire before Instonians rallied to give more impetus to their trip to Dublin after Easter.
Yesterday, in Leinster circles, Three Rock II beat Kilkenny 3-2 in the Railway Cup final at Serpentine Avenue, surviving a two-goal fight-back by Hugh Kelly. Earlier, Weston carried off the Neville Davin Cup by winning a shoot-out against Naas, 5-4, after a 5-5 extravaganza.
