Missen causes upset

Men's Hockey All-Ireland Club Championships: Well, well, Corinthians steal the limelight in the first weekend of the All-Ireland League Play-offs. Of all the sides expected to cause an upset, it was the Whitechurch Road team that pulled it off with an important 2-1 win over the Irish Senior Cup holders Instonians.

That score will be of huge benefit to Corinthians' confidence as this end-of-season wrap-up tournament progresses, particularly as the win was secured away from home. Although the home side took an early lead, through Irish international Mark Irwin, Adrian Missen equalised before the break.

But Corinthians, always considered a dangerous attacking side, hit the match-winner in the second half, Missen again on target.

At Grange Road, Three Rock Rovers went down 2-1 in the first leg of their play-off game against beaten Irish Cup finalists Cork Harlequins. That's a good result for the Cork side as Rovers must now travel to Farmers Cross for the return fixture.

Christian Judd, a regular on the Rovers' score sheet, hit his side's goal, David Eakins and Jason Black scoring one apiece for the visitors.

Pembroke's visit to Lisnagarvey, not unexpectedly, was a struggle, although the Dublin side might be disappointed with the four goals they conceded in this first leg. That's quite a gap to bridge when the teams meet at Serpentine Avenue.

Tim Cockram, who grabbed two hat-tricks from penalty corners for Lisnagarvey at the recent European Championships in Vienna, was again lethal and notched his third in 10 days, Kevin Lunn hitting the other. Justin Sherriff hit the only reply for Pembroke.

Cork C of I's 0-0 draw with Annadale in Garryduff means the Cork side have it all to do when they travel to Belfast for the return. Annadale have dominated things in Ulster this season, which means C of I face a difficult, although by no means insurmountable, task.