Men's hockey: While every other team south of the Border has been ousted, it's Bandon who stand alone to challenge Ulster's supremacy in the Irish Senior Cup semi-finals, which they have reached boldly for the first time.
In gaining a 2-1 victory over Kilkeel in Bandon on Saturday, the west Cork side have added the Mourne men to the scalps of Naas, Cliftonville, Belvedere and Clontarf - and next for shaving are the holders, Instonians, who must travel south on March 12th.
Bandon's defeat of Kilkeel was fully merited. They took a 2-0 lead from short corners through their captain David Smith and John Barrett in the 27th and 38th minutes. Craig Cunningham reduced the leeway for the visitors but they were denied a further reply by the resolute home defence in which goalkeeper Ian Hosford and sweeper Edgar Rice were leading figures.
Realistically, Instonians should be sufficiently accomplished to breach Bandon's resistance in a fortnight's time, yet it was sobering for the holders to be contained on local turf by YMCA - and by Trevor Dagg and Neil Lyons in particular - until a 2-1 win was secured late in extra time by Michael Watt.
After a scoreless first half, Robin Willis had edged YM ahead, though Chris Kirk equalised quickly.
Leinster's other last-ditch contenders, Glenanne, also refused to bow the knee lightly as Annadale were hassled all the way before coming through, 3-2, at Lough Moss. Indeed, the Dubliners were full of surprises. First, John Goulding seized the lead after a shot by Gary Shaw had been deflected onto an upright. Then, after Stephen Redpath had levelled matters, Eddie O'Malley forced a penalty from the much involved Johnny Moore, who, however, snuffed out Joe Brennan's stroke.
It was 2-1 for Annadale at half-time as Ian Hamilton whipped home a drag flick and Graham Shaw broke clear to make it 3-1 early in the second half. But Glenanne still had some enterprising moves to spring from the bench. Player-coach Colin Stewart zipped into action to send Goulding through for a second goal and with Alan Browne leading the charge, an equaliser barely failed to materialise.
Annadale, though again at home, must now face Lisnagarvey with some trepidation, for the Lisburn side could be reckoned as favourites after the 4-2 conquest of Banbridge.
Saturday's matches were tinged with sadness by news of the death of Alvin Carson (59) who was Ireland's most capped and courageous goalkeeper.