Although Ulster sides won all eight matches in which they were involved against fellow second-division teams from the South in the initial round of the Irish Senior Cup, at least Portrane went out with flying colours, 5-4, to Antrim at Dardistown.
Matthew McCann hit three goals for the Fingal harriers as they led 4-2 going into the closing exchanges but in stoppage time, South African striker Alan Kelly completed a blistering reverse-stick hat-trick for the visitors in an incident-packed game.
Only UCD, buoyed by their Mauritius Cup success in gaining a 2-0 win over Eastern Health, and durable Naas, who ousted St Brendan's 3-1 in the other all-Leinster tie, survive to challenge Ulster's strong hand at this stage and they face away second-round games at Kilkeel and Larne, respectively.
In the Ulster Senior League, Lisnagarvey's 6-2 victory over Banbridge will have sent out a message to opponents throughout the land that, with Terry Gregg back at the helm, they have their sights set on regaining the all-Ireland trophy. But what impact will be made by Leinster's leading first division clubs - not to mention Cork C of I and Harlequins - when they appear in the third round?
The pace continues to be promising. Corinthians, conquerors of Lisnagarvey last season, were too quick for Avoca in the Senior League on Saturday, winning 3-0 with Colin Stewart swooping twice.
Monkstown, in earning a 1-1 draw with Three Rock Rovers at Rathdown, are steadily coming of age. Stewart Moffett again deputised earnestly for Ali Murdoch and Glenn Bailey nullified Rovers' short-corner dominance in the first half. Then, following a flurry of Monkstown corners after the break, Justin Sherriff extracted a penalty stroke for Greg Heger to give the home side the lead.
However, Rovers - though missing Gordon Elliott - hit back immediately for Christian Judd to finish off a Robin Madeley set piece and Gary Ringwood threatened to poach the full points before Ian Allen, equally, barely failed to put away a Monkstown winner.
So Rovers remain unbeaten but are two points behind Pembroke Wanderers, whom they will be entertaining at Grange Road next Saturday. Pembroke took a clear lead in the table (with Corinthians on their heels) in outpacing Railway Union, 3-0 at Serpentine Avenue.
Yet, it took only the sharpest of finishing by Trevor Dunne, Max Lanos and Simon Kershaw to beat the former South African under21 goalkeeper, David Staniforth, while Railway - even without several key figures and with Gareth Carroll a vigilant defender from the reserves - created chances, too. Notably, Paul O'Brien set the crossbar quivering in the first half and later had a penalty stroke saved by Nigel Henderson.
The Ireland goalkeeper then humbly did his bar duty, clearing away glasses and deftly pulling pints - a skill which was also being mastered by Ann Klatt from Germany after scoring twice against Genesis. Long live the amateur spirit.
