Pembroke Wanderers II created the major upset of the second round of the Coca Cola Leinster Senior Cup yesterday when they beat holders Old Alexandra 3-2 at Milltown - and were promptly "rewarded" with a tie away to Senior A champions Loreto in the quarter-final draw.
Olga Piggott opened the scoring for Pembroke in the first half, but the Senior B leaders were indebted to a sparkling display from goalkeeper Mary Goode, who made her best save of the game shortly before the break from a short corner strike.
Alexandra levelled 15 minutes into the second half through Richelle Flanagan and the game went in to extra time, but goals from Orla Bell, who played with Alexandra last season, and Wendy Hobson sealed the win for Pembroke before Carol Metchette scored a late consolation goal.
A Cathy McKean hat-trick helped Loreto on their way to a 7-0 win over Muckross, while Loreto II won by the same scoreline against Old Alexandra II, with Carol Fanagan scoring four. Loreto II meet Corinthian in the quarter-finals after the Senior B team beat Senior A's Glenanne 2-0 on Saturday with goals from Athra Kerr and Kathy Johnson.
Senior A leaders Hermes beat Clontarf, last season's semi-finalists, 5-0 (Caitriona Carey and Mary Logue scored two apiece), and will be more than a little familiar with their quarterfinal opponents on January 6th. Yes, they were drawn against Hermes II, 4-2 winners over Our Lady's, after going two goals down. Quite who the crowd will shout for at Belfield it's hard to know.
Goals from Ciara O'Brien, Jill Kelly and Hilda Maguire gave UCD a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 win over Genesis at Milltown, setting up a meeting in the last eight with Avoca. Jill Stewart was the toast of Senior B's bottom club after getting the only goal of their tie against Aer Lingus. Avoca are coached by Denise McCarthy who was Aer Lingus goalkeeper until this season and still works for the company. She may don dark sunglasses and a false beard when she reports for work this morning.
In the Irish Junior Cup, Pegasus II opened the defence of the trophy with an emphatic 6-0 win away to Kinvara, but last season's beaten finalists Kilkenny went down by the same scoreline to Ballyclare.
Enniscorthy were the day's top scorers, beating Randalstown II 7-0, while Three Rock Ladies and Hermes III both eased in to the second round with 4-0 victories over Muckross II and Wexford respectively. Belfast Harlequins II were 2-0 winners over North Kildare.
Brid Kilbane swept home an Eavanne O'Reilly cross after just five minutes to give the University of Limerick a 1-0 win over UCC in the semi-finals of the Munster Division One Cup. They meet Harlequins in the final next month.
Belfast Harlequins put up a spirited display against Pegasus in the Ulster Shield, only losing 2-1 in the first round to the holders, while Aisling Sherriff, sister of Irish striker Justin, was among the goals for Victorians in their 3-0 win over Saintfield.
