Glenanne, having gained a deserved 1-0 win over Pembroke Wanderers at St Mark's on Saturday to force their way to the top of the Leinster League table, found themselves with a fresh challenge last night - they will be hosts to the all-Ireland champions Instonians in the third round of the Irish Senior Cup in a fortnight's time.

It was only by 5-4 on aggregate that the Dubliners lost to the Ulstermen in the quarter-finals of the championship. They look well capable of reaching that stage again, yet whether they can take the Leinster title from Pembroke will probably go down to the last teabag when these two sides meet again in the final match of the campaign in Ballsbridge on March 18th.

Missing both Devin Donnelly and Justin Sherriff, Pembroke rarely attacked with real punch against a defence fortified by Ciaran Bolger's availability this season. Only from short corners did the visitors threaten to score - and Ian Clarke kept out whatever Stephen Stewart fired at him. Much stronger in midfield, Glenanne attacked more menacingly even if it was from only one set-piece that Stephen Butler placed the ball out of Nigel Henderson's reach five minutes before half-time.

Corinthians, at home to Pembroke next Saturday (and then Catholic Institute, in the cup) retained third place with a 2-0 defeat of Railway Union at Whitechurch Park. Colin Stewart scored both goals in an embattled first half for the Railway goalkeeper Dave Staniforth while Peter Darley was fully involved in the second period in ensuring that Corinthians took both points.

Monkstown moved into fourth spot in beating YMCA 3-0 at Rathdown. Brian Groves converted a first-minute penalty and Alastair Murdoch and Simon Cox, on his 24th birthday, widened the margin in the closing stages. It was Cox's seventh goal in three games. It's Glenanne next.

Dave Bane put Aer Lingus two up at the airport before Avoca rallied to salvage their fifth league draw while Trinity came through their second-round all-Ireland Cup tie against Antrim (4-3) thanks to a `golden' extra-time goal by Charlie Carroll. The reward is another home tie, against Portadown.

St Brendan's/Phoenix Park and St James's Gate also survived to go into the third-round draw (away to Kilkeel and Banbridge, respectively). Among the top pedigree pairings is Three Rock Rovers v Annadale while the holders Cork C of I travel to Newry. Pembroke also go north to take on NICS (2-1 conquerors of UCD at Stormont).