WEEKEND HOCKEY:THE LINE-UP for the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup is finally complete, Three Rock Rovers and Monkstown coming through their previously postponed second-round ties on Saturday against Cookstown and Raphoe. Hard-fought victories they were too, Rovers winning on penalty strokes and Monkstown needing an extra-time golden goal to advance.
Rovers and Cookstown, who lost to Pembroke Wanderers in last season’s final, played out a largely uneventful and scoreless 70 minutes at Grange Road, with extra-time also failing to separate them.
For a time it looked as though strokes wouldn’t find a winner either, but with the count at 6-6 Peter Blakeney, who is departing Rovers soon for Rome where he will play professionally, stepped up to convert his effort and put Rovers through to the last eight.
Brian Groves, meanwhile, was the match winner for Monkstown in their tie away to Raphoe, his golden goal, after normal time finished 2-2, sealing a home tie against Kilkeel in the quarter-finals.
Rovers will be at home again, this time to Lisnagarvey, while Glenanne will meet Corinthian and Banbridge will host Annadale. The ties are scheduled to be played on Saturday week.
On the league front Leinster first division leaders Corinthian were held to a 1-1 draw away to YMCA, allowing Pembroke and Glenanne to close the gap at the top. Glenanne took six points from their games against Clontarf (7-1) and Railway Union (2-1), while Pembroke beat Fingal 3-0 yesterday, Ian Sothern scoring twice.
Corinthian lead Pembroke by two points, but have played two more games. Glenanne are now seven points behind the leaders, but have three games in hand.
Corinthian at least completed their weekend on a winning note, beating Rovers 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup yesterday, Davy Carson, Lucas Piccioli and Brian Doherty getting their goals.
