Final four predictable

Whatever way the Irish Senior Cup semi-final draw works out next weekend, it appears that Pembroke Wanderers and Lisnagarvey have harnessed their resources to offer a strong challenge to the holders Cork C of I, with Harlequins still there, too, if with an outside chance. Saturday's quarter-finals followed relatively predictable lines, though it was not expected that C of I would win as comfortably as 4-0 against Avoca at Garryduff or that Pembroke would concede an early goal to North Down before finishing 5-2 victors at Serpentine Avenue.

It was also a trifle surprising that the Harlequins defence would let in three goals against Kilkeel, before the game at Farmers Cross was settled at 5-3 in favour of the home side, for whom David Eakins scored a hat-trick.

As regards the tie between Ulster's two super powers at Blaris, Lisnagarvey's 1-0 conquest of Instonians was just about deserved in a high tech contest. Lisnagarvey, retaining seven internationals in a full strength squad, went ahead just before the interval when their Australian striker Nick Bailie scored. Goalkeeper Skillen went on to keep Instonians hopes alive as Julian Stevenson went closest to sealing Lisnagarvey's advance.

In Dublin, Pembroke in some ways relished a vigorous testing by North Down, who seized the lead after 14 minutes when Peter Shields opened the way for the unmarked Ian McKeown to lash home a shot.

Pembroke, though, were attacking constantly, with Paudie Carley building from the back and Devin Donnelly developing the moves for Justin Sherriff and Gordon Elliott to tear at the cover. Sherriff equalised from a short corner, then Elliott raced into space on the right to score the second goal. Sherriff went on a Slalom run through the middle to make it 3-1 by half-time.

A North Down counter-attack yielded a short corner for Shields to reduce the deficit early in the second-half and there was relief for the home side when Nigel Henderson foiled a break by Andy McGimpsey. Pembroke resumed control for Elliott and Colin Kelly to set up Alan Giles for two more goals in the closing exchanges.

Taking the lead in the seventh minute when David Hobbs connected with a cross by Carl Burns, C of I had too much momentum for Avoca. From a set piece Derek Hales made it 2-0 by the break and John Jermyn and Darren Hanna scored in the second-half.

Glennan beat Aer Lingus 4-1 in a Leinster Senior League fixture.