Clontarf get off the mark

There was nothing predictable about Saturday's Leinster league fare. Notably, Clontarf earned their first premier division point in drawing 1-1 with YMCA while Monkstown gained a relatively rare win (2-1) at the expense of Three Rock Rovers.

Eoin McCoille finished off a short corner to put Clontarf ahead early in the second half at Ballinteer and it was only with nine minutes to spare that Eric Gierts, also from a set piece, left matters even.

Alastair Murdoch scored twice for Monkstown in a whirlwind start at Rathdown where Angus Dunlop replied for Three Rock before eight minutes had elapsed. Subsequently an ice-cool performance by their Finnish goalkeeper Toni Lehtinen enabled Monkstown to stay in front.

Later in the afternoon, the champions Pembroke Wanderers were within seconds of defeat by Railway Union at Park Avenue when a last-gasp short corner yielded an equaliser by Stephen Stewart (2-2).

In an uncompromising joust, Stephen Moulton had volleyed Railway into an early lead and although Paudie Carley made it 1-1 from a disputed penalty stroke, it seemed that a goal by Jason Hatcher in the closing minutes would put the home side on top of the table. Stewart's drag flick, however, left Pembroke holding onto first place. Glenanne may remain Wanderers' toughest rivals, yet they, too, did not have things their own way as they were obliged to recover from a 3-2 deficit against Aer Lingus before winning 5-3. Avoca, their opponents in today's Stephen Doyle Cup final, had to be satisfied with another draw, this time 3-3 with Corinthians, for whom Mark Magnier from Kilkenny College notched his first goal at senior level.