Edging out both Instonians (2-1) and Glenanne (4-3) in their pool games, it was Railway Union who emerged to challenge Avoca for the allIreland indoor laurels at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.
Avoca, however, remained resolute to win the final, 2-0, even if they will be hoping for greater fluency when they represent Dublin in the world inter-cities tournament in Glasgow next weekend.
Having been fully tested by Holywood before coming through, 3-1, Avoca found themselves facing Railway again after an abrasive struggle, exposed to the elements, 27 hours earlier. With Barry Merriman and Paul O'Brien being especially active opponents, Avoca failed to find an opening in the first period but their greater experience on the boards, epitomised by the embattled Thespian Trevor Dagg, eventually yielded a goal apiece to Anton Scott and JP Murphy.
Outdoors, on the most wintery Saturday of the season, the leading sides in the Leinster Senior League found sufficient stamina to leave the table largely unstirred. In the waterworld match at Grange Road, leaders Pembroke Wanderers carried too much rhythm for Three Rock Rovers, winning 2-0 with first-half goals from Stephen Stewart and Darren Hanna, with Devin Donnelly busily involved.
The margin would have been increased after the interval but for stout goalkeeping by Shane Davey, though Rovers, too, had some shots on target by Robin Madeley which called for the sharpest of Nigel Handerson's reactions.
Corinthians shaped up for the Irish Senior Cup visit of Lisnagarvey next weekend with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Trinity, with Colin Stewart helping himself to another brace of goals.
Dessie Farrell, enjoying the elements between his appearances for the Dublin footballers, was also twice on the mark as Glenanne beat a spirited YMCA side 3-1 at Ballinteer.
Railway Union, taking the lead through Stephen Moulton, were particularly resilient at Rathdown before Avoca captured the points, 3-2, with a late winner from Trevor Dagg.
The most upbeat team were UCD, who comprehensively recorded their second win, 3-0, at the expense of out-of-sorts Monkstown at Belfield. Simon Brown dextrously put the students ahead following a short corner and there was soon a chance to go two up when Owen Butler was brought down. Keith Fishbourne, however, whipped the penalty stroke wide.
Fishbourne, though, continued to be one of the game's most influential figures and while Ken Miller was required to busy himself for a period as Richard Beere tried to stir Monkstown from the back, UCD made a decisive break midway through the second half. Butler capitalised on a misplaced pass to send Graham O'Meara clear to score the second goal with some elan and the captain Peter Fox potted a corner to complete the tally.
Away to Instonians in the All-Ireland Cup next Saturday, this is likely to be too testing an assignment for the Belfield brigade but they may well continue to pick up points in the Leinster premier division to make it a four-way showdown for survival along with Trinity, Monkstown and YMCA.
Instonians maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Ulster League classification with a 10 victory over Raphoe at Olympia Leisure Centre which would have been much more convincing but for a tremendous display by the Donegal side's goalkeeper, David Buchanan.
The leaders looked like suffering a frustrating afternoon, for the gallant goalkeeper was unbeaten until the 58th minute when Ireland striker Mark Irwin touched home Paul Hollway's shot at Instonians' 13th corner (out of a total of 18). Buchanan, who also saved a penalty stroke from Neil Cooke, will obviously be the man to beat when Glenanne visit the North West in the Nissan-sponsored Irish Cup next weekend.
In Munster, Alastair Dunne notched a hattrick as Cork C of I showed their prowess in a 7-2 league defeat of Bandon, while Harlequins beat UCC 2-0.
Women's Hockey
