DESPITE being on the defensive for virtually the entire match, a resolute Greystones side managed to hang on and force a replay of of this Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final.

The visitors can consider themselves extremely lucky, especially after a missed penalty kick by Skerries' Jimmy Dempsey one minute into injury, time.

The wet and windy conditions at Holmpatrick on Saturday were far from ideal for entertaining rugby. Perhaps the weather was partially to blame for the fact that a penalty from Dempsey two minutes from the break was the only score of the first half.

With a strong breeze behind them in the second half, it seemed likely that Greystones would make their opponents pay for their squandered possession, and in the 46th minute the visitors got off the mark with a penalty from their impressive winger David Nolan.

But Skerries played admirably in the third quarter, and regained the lead on 52 minutes when Dempsey kicked his second penalty. Greystones, however, responded immediately with a penalty from David Nolan.

A Dempsey penalty in the 63rd minute saw Skerries take the lead once again; but a dogged and determined Greystones side forced a reply seven minutes later with another penalty from Nolan.