ULSTER'S 16 year hold on the Irish Senior Cup is in jeopardy following the draw for the quarter finals in Dublin yesterday.

Either the holders, Instonians, or seven in a row winners Lisnagarvey will be eliminated when they meet in Belfast on February 3rd. Holywood and Annadale must travel to meet Leinster's two leadings sides, Three Rock Rovers and Avoca, respectively.

The fourth pairing sends Pembroke Wanderers to renew their Dublin Cork rivalry with C of 1 at Garryduff.

Nissan Ireland is the last three rounds of Cup and the all Ireland championship finals.

This season's last eight stage in the cup could hardly be more stimulating. For Jimmy Kirkwood and the Lisnagarvey brigade, it may well be a last tango against the committed Instonians team.

In Dublin, it will be a question of whether Liam Canning or Kenny Morris can accelerate away from their markers in the ThreeRock Holywood tie.

Avoca, in their centenary season, have again got a home draw in their quest for a trophy which has been out of reach now for more than a decade.

The Blackrock club have had sociable links with Annadale who, though, having risen from second division ranks to become much respected competitors, not least that they have ambitions of becoming Ulster champions with young players of the calibre of Chris Jackson and David Smyth.

Among the many associations Pembroke have had with Cork C of I is that the Dublin club last won the cup when the final was played at Glasheen Road in 1973. Jack Hanna scored the winner for Pembroke that day. Now his two sons, Darren and Colin, will be aiming to reverse the result. C of I, though, will also be hoping Alistair Dunne recovers from injury.

Helping, in a farewell function, to keep yesterday's draw in order was Mary Coyle, who was a leading figure in media liaison during both the women's World Cup and men's European Championship in Dublin. She has been appointed communications officer of the World Hockey Federation (FIH) in Brussels and her opening assignment will be at the Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Barcelona, which starts this weekend.

With David Balbirnie and Siobhan Madeley running the European Federation offices in Mount Merrion. it seems that Ireland is directing hockey operations on all fronts.