In the years in which the President's XI v The Rest game was becoming too sedate an affair to rouse the Dublin hockey fraternity at Christmas, someone said `let's have something more competitive' - and so it came to pass that the Neville Cup became the trophy to be won in the St Stephen's Day charity match.

Yesterday's match turned out to be the most hotly-disputed of all as Glenanne tore into the defence of the trophy from the opening attack and scored straightaway as Graham Shaw was taken down in the circle by Stephen Kinsella and Stephen Butler put away the penalty stroke. But Avoca managed to reply immediately through Enda Gallanagh and, remarkably, went on to win by a margin that did not reflect the flow of the game.

Ultimately, the short-corner tally was 15-3 to Glenanne, but their set-pieces failed to yield anything against the vigilance of Kinsella and his composed fellow defenders. Not only did no further goal materialise in the first half, but the second half was also looking distinctly unfestive - apart from the mounting number of yellow cards (three to each side) which were being incurred, as well as the amount of shouting, which sent headache sufferers to the pavilion to seek solace.

Twice, however, Avoca carried out two effective raids from both of which Anton Scott set the net bulging to make it 3-1, whereas Glenanne, with far the greater attacking volume, enjoyed no reward. Paul Fitzpatrick sent a shot zinging against a post and then a goal was disallowed when it seemed that Butler might have got a touch in the circle to a free from Alan Brown.

Avoca broke away again in the closing minutes for the astute Scott to set JP Murphy up for their fourth goal, putting the wrapping on their second Leinster Branch trophy of the season.

The prophecy of coach Simon Filgas that the side still had cup-fighting qualities is ringing true, though the draw for the quarterfinals of the Mills Cup, made yesterday, pairs them with Pembroke Wanderers.