Both Pembroke Wanderers, the holders, and Glenanne, probably their strongest challengers, have emerged with home ties against Cookstown and Railway Union, respectively, in the fourth round of the Irish Senior Cup on January 27th. The draw will give the two leading teams in Leinster a comfortable feeling as they embark on the second half of the league programme this weekend.

Glenanne, in fact, play Railway away tomorrow but should be capable of repeating the 3-1 Tallaght win which earned them full points at the start of their quest to retain the title. They then lapsed, of course, allowing Pembroke to sweep all before them until three weeks ago when the defending champions won 3-2 at Serpentine Avenue.

Pembroke, thus a trifle sobered, will treat Monkstown with some respect at Rathdown tomorrow. Perhaps they will not win as convincingly as the 4-0 margin recorded in the home game, yet their 5-1 defeat of Corinthians in the Irish Cup last Saturday will have renewed their attacking zest, which they will also hope to retain for the visit of Cookstown.

Bangor will have ambitions of being the only second-division survivors at all-Ireland level when they are hosts this weekend to Avoca in the delayed third-round tie. Avoca, though, are a more accomplished side and ought to qualify for a second away trip, if a daunting one against Instonians.

YMCA will also find themselves in the cup limelight in January with Lisnagarvey visiting Ballinteer. Trinity, with an excursion to Banbridge - where Gareth Hinds sank a shock last-minute winner two years ago - in the meantime are hoping to earn their first full points at the expense of Three Rock Rovers.