AS EXPECTED, the majority of Leinster clubs went tumbling out of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup on Saturday.

Just three from 12 have a definite spot in the third round and the only guarantee of a Dublin club advancing further is that Merrion and Leinster have been drawn against each other.

The third qualifying club is CYM, who won with relative ease at The Mardyke.

Leinster alone managed to beat a Northern side, and in quite dramatic circumstances too. Joe Byrne's tremendous 138 set Leinster up for a total of 248 for 6 but Woodvale pushed them close, finishing just two runs short. Once Stephen Warke and Rizwan uz Zaman had been sent back, the Leinster players must have envisaged a more comfortable conclusion but Stephen Donnelly and David Scott scored rapidly, putting the visitors into a position where they needed 40 from the last five overs and then 10 from Richie Waddell's final over.

YM's chances against Eglinton were hampered by a couple of close umpiring calls that went against them. Barbadian Heady Wallace was given the benefit of the doubt after a sharp piece of stumping by Keith Bailey and then began his assault in the YM bowlers. Also, Alan Lewis received a dubious run out decision.

Pembroke recovered well after a disappointing batting performance to challenge North Down. Charlie McCrum and Raman Lamba were both back in the hutch with 30 on the board and as the light faded, a target of 142 began to look increasingly difficult. With three overs left, North Down still needed 24 but a few blows from Michael Mighty Quinn brought them home with four balls in hand.

The most one sided game of the day was at Anglesea Road, where Gus Joyce's 141 helped Merrion to a mammoth 343 for 6 from their 50 overs. Sadly, Harlequins could only muster 54 in reply.

. Michael Rea has withdrawn from the Irish team to play Wales at Rathmines next weekend. His place has been taken by Cliftonville's Kyle McCallan, who wins his first cap.