Munster clubs in strong position

Following the first-leg ties on Saturday, it seems that only one Leinster club, Pembroke Wanderers, and Instonians alone from Ulster are going to survive the All-Ireland Championship quarter-finals whereas both Munster's representatives, Harlequins and Cork C of I, are well placed to reach the last-four round-robin weekend on May 1st-2nd-3rd.

Pembroke's 4-2 away victory against Annadale provides a comfortable advantage for next Saturday's return game in Dublin. Equally, Instonians' 3-2 win at Glenanne will give them the edge in Belfast. The same can be said for Harlequins, whose late winner against Avoca leaves them with a 2-1 cushion for the home tie. Probably, though, C of I will still need to attack vigorously at Blaris to maintain their 3-1 lead against Lisnagarvey.

Munsterman Trevor Dunne was the most alert figure for Pembroke, opening and closing the scoring at Lough Moss as well as earning a penalty stroke, converted by Francis de Rosa. Dougie Goode was also on the target for the visitors, making it 2-0 at the interval after which Annadale responded with goals from Chris Jackson and Ian Weatherup before Pembroke finished strongly.

While Instonians were undoubtedly the more accomplished side at Tallaght, Glenanne were undaunted. This was typified by the resilience of Alan Browne in midfield and the tenacious closing down of Neil Cooke by David Shaw. Furthermore, Stephen Butler slipped the Dubliners into an early lead and also notched a dragflick equaliser before Julian Lewis sent Paul Hollway through decisively in the 57th minute.

John Atkins had made it 1-1 by the interval and sustained pressure yielded Instonians' second goal from Mervyn Cooke after the fully occupied Ian Clarke had saved sharply from a Hollway short-corner shot.

At Rathdown, Avoca goalkeeper Stephen Kinsella defied Harlequins in the first half but seemed to be unsighted when Eoin Lane slotted the Cork side ahead in the 51st minute. Avoca roused themselves for Dara Gallanagh to equalise with some elan and they were threatening to score again when Harlequins counter attacked for Jason Black to set up Lane for his second goal.

Possibly, C of I should have made more of home advantage in the first half against Lisnagarvey who played promisingly after the break for Johnny Gray to cancel out Mark Black's 17th minute opener. However, Nigel Buttimer and Neil Welch re-established the Munstermen's grip on the tie before the end.

YMCA retained their place in the Leinster first division in beating Trinity 2-1 at Serpentine Avenue yesterday. Michael Harte drove the promotion-seeking students into the lead but Michael Fry equalised before the break and with Andy Robertson scoring early in the second half, YM became sufficiently dominant to prevail.

Ezra handleman helped himself to six goals in Avoca III's 7-1 defeat of Smithfield in the Intermediate Cup final while Brendan Cooney added to the family's collection of minor medals in UCD III's 4-0 win over YMCA V.