Hockey: Robin Powderly, who has been around long enough to know, described it as the best game he had ever witnessed at Wesley College as his Dublin YMCA team fought out a 2-2 draw with a Pembroke Wanderers side brimming with internationals on Saturday.

With reigning Leinster League champions Three Rock Rovers seemingly in the doldrums - a 2-1 defeat by Monkstown the latest setback for them - the weight of expectation rests on Pembroke's collective shoulders this season.

However, it took a two-goal salvo from Justin Sherriff to rescue a point from the game as his international team-mate Nigel Henderson was beaten by Michael Fry and Andrew Walker.

Rovers took an early lead through Charlie Carroll against Monkstown but a penalty-corner equaliser was followed by a goal from Gareth Watkins as the Rathfarnham side again stumbled.

Aer Lingus stay top of the table after a virtuoso display from David Bain at Swords. The prolific striker claimed all of the goals as his side beat Railway Union 4-3 to leave themselves one point clear of YMCA.

Glenanne are a point further back in third and clearly suffering from the loss of three stalwarts playing in Belgium, Graham Shaw the latest defection.

On Saturday, the Tallaght side were held to a scoreless draw by UCD, while Trinity fell to a 3-1 home defeat against Corinthians.

In Ulster, Kirk Cup holders Cookstown made an early exit from the competition when they were beaten 4-2 by Banbridge. The latter were indebted to Rory Madeley, who got a hat-trick.

Banbridge are joined in the last four by Lisnagarvey, Annadale and Instonians, all former winners of the prestigious showpiece, the final of which will be staged on St Stephen's Day.