The rare and ancient `bully' came into play in the final minute at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday. "It was probably the last of the Millennium," observed Nigel Kingston (broken leg, New Jersey, 1987, displaced kneecap, Dublin, November 1999). The sidelined Avoca stalwart had to concede at that stage that his clubmates were going to lose again by the narrowest of margins (1-0) to Pembroke Wanderers in this second-round Mills Cup tie. Yet the visitors' resistance was typified as Stephen Kinsella charged from his goal to send both himself and attacker Gordon Elliott sprawling on a 50/ 50 ball. With both players grounded, Olympic umpire Ray O'Connor neutralised the situation by calling for a bully, which turned out to be virtually the last action of the match.

It had been largely a clinical affair with both defences yielding minimal opportunities for breakthroughs. Indeed, the only goal came as early as the fourth minute as Trevor Dunne was left with sufficient room to fire Pembroke into the lead.

That might have prompted the home side to gain control but instead it was Avoca who became more incisive on the counter thrust. Twice, Jamie Scott sent shots against the framework, in between which Charlie Henderson (deputising for his 'flu-hit brother Nigel) brought off a spectacular save from a David Hanna drag flick.

Pembroke started the second half more purposefully but were repulsed sturdily, notably by Hanna, and missing Francis de Rosa (back trouble) the home side were unable to sustain a full press. There remained the threat of an Avoca equaliser, with some menace coming from Ezra Handelman on the right wing, until Pembroke became forceful again in the closing exchanges.

Six other first-division sides also reached the quarter-finals, though not in every case by the hefty margins that might have been anticipated against more lowly opposition.

Monkstown had a slim-looking 2-1 win over St James's Gate at the Iveagh Grounds, though the understrength visitors went two up and coped with a late upsurge by the Gate, who belied their lowly league position.

Three Rock Rovers came through by no more than 3-1 against Clontarf at Glasnevin while Corinthians survived their visit to unfamiliar territory at Naas (4-0). Railway Union (5-0 v Portrane), YMCA (5-1 v UCD) and Glenanne (8-1 v DCU) were untroubled. Weston, who edged out Skerries 2-1 with a `golden' goal by Mark Bernie, are the only second-division survivors.

Trinity duly took their place in the prestigious last 16 of the Irish Senior Cup by beating Portadown 4-2 in the delayed third-round tie at Santry. The visitors gained a 2-0 lead but the students' scholarship trio, Michael Harte, Charlie Carroll and Christian Judd, showed their worth in attacking decisively. It is interesting that Bangorman Harte has played a leading role in sending three Ulster teams packing and now a fourth, North Down, face a trip to north Dublin.

In Munster, Waterford took valuable points from Catholic Institute in holding the Limerick side to a 1-1 draw.