WHILE it would be premature for Railway Union or Monkstown to presume that the winner of their Irish Senior Cup quarter final next, weekend will eventually lift "the trophy, the victors will certainly fancy their chances.

They were again well matched in their bracing rehearsal at Park Avenue on Saturday but it was Railway, with a 1-0 win, who earned both Leinster League points to give them a deserved joint fifth spot with Glenanne in the table.

Sharper at the start, Railway went close to gaining control in the first half, but Stephen Moulton and Paul O'Brien sent shots' against the posts. Furthermore, Peter Spencer, deputising for his fellow Leinster under 21 goalkeeper, Glenn Bailey, stoutly saw to it that Monkstown were still in contention by the interval.

In the second period, indeed, Tim Dunwoody appeared to have his defence sufficiently marshalled to hold Railway scoreless, while there was a possibility that the resourceful Cliff Bailey might make the most of a quick break.

Eight minutes from the end, however, a short corner yielded a clear opportunity for Karl Swan to slot home what proved to be the winner for the home side and while Monkstown pressed strongly in search of an equaliser, there was no way through against the tenacious covering of brothers Ger and Conor O'Brien.

The pattern of next Saturday's cup tie is unlikely to be much different, though if the young Monkstown attack can move the ball an instant sooner, Barry Merriman might well have a busier time in the Railway goal.

Meanwhile, Trinity have strengthened their position at the top of the second division, winning 2-1 at Skerries in the only other senior game played in Leinster. Simon Furney and Jason Milne scored for the students - now sensing promotion - while Alistair McMahon was on the target for the home brigade, who have rallied admirably after a tentative start to the season.

There was a major surprise in Ulster, where Holywood were beaten 4-3 by Cliftonville at the Olympia Leisure Centre in the solitary Section One match to survive the icy weather.

Holywood, who travel to Dublin next weekend to tackle Pembroke Wanderers in the Irish Senior Cup, went into Saturday's game at the top of the league table and led 2-0 after only eight minutes, thanks to two superb strikes by Kenny Morris.

But Cliftonville, coached by former Leinster and Ireland captains Stewart McNulty, battled back admirably to draw level at 2-2 and then 3-3 before taking the points with Johnny Poots's second goal of a rousing match.