Glenanne through to final

GLENANNE are back to enliven Grange Road on St Patrick's Day when they will be defending the Leinster Senior Cup against Three Rock Rovers.

Taken to another shoot-out by Pembroke Wanderers in Saturday's semi-final replay at St Mark's, they won 4-3 on strokes after the sides were deadlocked at 2-2.

It was from a full press at the start, as well as early in the second-half and in the initial stages of extra time, that Glenanne gained sufficient buoyancy to achieve their win. However, there were extensive stages when Pembroke - missing five first XI players - still had the resources to drive forward. Indeed, while they forced 17 short corners to the home side's six, the visitors' set-pieces yielded little without several key personnel.

Again, Stephen Butler showed composure in putting away the two Glenanne goals, from a short corner in the sixth minute and a penalty stroke won by Roly O'Donohue in a fresh wave of attacks when the match went into the first extra 15 minutes.

But Pembroke, with storming performances by Turlough O Siochain, Colin KellY and Paudie Carley, were rewarded with their first equaliser in the 47th minute when O Siochain made a deep incision to the back line for his cross to be finished off by Simon Kershaw.

This was after Graham Shaw had broken clean through for Glenanne, only to fire wide. This was typical of the game, with the home team going straight for goal while Pembroke depended too much on corners. Although losing Trevor Dunne with a broken wrist, they dominated the final quarter of normal time - Seamus Shaw was particularly alert in the astute Glenanne defence and Paul Fitzpatrick was having a duel of some substance with Carley.

Nevertheless, as the Pembroke set-piece tally mounted, a second goal duly arrived shortly after Glenanne had edged 2-1 ahead through Butler's eighth score in three matches (four, it must be noted, against Rovers in the league). A shot by Stephen Stewart was deemed to have hit a foot en route to the target and Carley converted the penalty, having earlier sent a stroke against the crossbar.

It was ironic that, in the shoot-out, Butler was foiled by a fine save from Jason O'Brien. No one else failed for Glenanne, while two Pembroke strokes were off target.

So Glenanne repeated their conquest of the Ballsbridge side by the same means as in the Neville Cup final. Now there is much to be disputed in the league run-in as both remain in contention for the title.

Three Rock, meanwhile, in beating Monsktown 3-1 on Saturday, have taken over the lead from Avoca (who have a match in hand - but that's against Glenanne on Wednesday).

In the Irish Junior Cup, Avoca II, in ousting Three Rock II by 4-0, are now favourites for the semi-final stage in which they are joined by the Colin Stewart-spearheaded Corinthians II, who were too accomplished for Waterford.

Newry II, who defeated Railway Union II 5-2, keep Ulster represented, while Harlequins II (3-1 winners against Holywood II) offer Munster's challenge.