Flurries of goals keep the heart rate up

Apart from frost causing the postponement of the Corinthians-Skerries tie, Saturday's other three Mills Cup quarter-finals yielded rich flurries of goals, calling for celebratory nips of brandy. Monkstown felt particularly warmed by their 7-3 dismissal of YMCA, a win which will give them extra encouragement for next weekend's Irish Senior Cup assignment away to Anna dale.

YMCA, though, were destabilised by the departure with back trouble of their captain, Stewart Taylor, after five minutes. They managed to lead twice through Steve McNeill and Michael Fry, but Greg Heger made it 2-2 by the interval and there followed a blitz of controlled, attacking hockey by the home side which sent their tally sizzling to six.

Justin Sherriff forced two penalty strokes within a minute, one of which Heger converted for his hat-trick. Sherriff sent the other off the upright, but then he and Dan Bolger lashed shots into the roof of the net before Cliff Bailey slalomed his way through to leave YM reeling. Later, the highly effective Heger added his fourth goal and Stephen Findlater got one back for the visitors.

Three Rock Rovers, with Liam Canning returning from Christmas leave, scored three handsome second-half goals to eliminate depleted Avoca 3-2 at Grange Road. Avoca were without Galahad Goulet, then Paul Derham succumbed to 'flu and Anton Scott went off with a facial injury. They held out until Canning laid on opportunities for Charlie Carroll and Gordon Eliott to strike from successive surges.

Eliott repeated the act before the end, though in the last few minutes Rovers took their foot off the gas as David Hanna struck two short corners out of Anthony O'Neill's reach. O'Neill has come out of retirement as Shane Davy is unavailable for the all-Ireland Cup tie at Mossley. An experienced goalkeeper is also needed for Rovers' Easter assignment in Amsterdam.

Pembroke Wanderers were also much depleted on Saturday, as at one stage they found themselves leading Trinity only by 3-2 at Santry before they finishing 5-2 winners. Alann Kershaw (2) and Trevor Dunne had made it 3-0 by the interval, but the students worried the champions with goals by Greg Dunne and Michael Harte. Then, however, a controversial penalty stroke for Pembroke was not only put away by Paudie Carley, but protesting Trinity also found their numbers reduced by three yellow cards, and Carley scored again before the finish.

Surprisingly, Railway Union were held 0-0 by Aer Lingus in their replayed league fixture at ALSAA. While both sides missed chances, Railway's goalkeeper, Dave Staniforth, was also called into action.