Never-say-die Lisnagarvey come back from the dead

After several lean seasons, an Ulster revival has materialised for the all-Ireland championship finals at Belfield next weekend as Lisnagarvey and Annadale survived the last-eight stage to challenge Pembroke Wanderers and Cork Harlequins for a berth in Europe.

It was remarkable that Lisnagarvey came through the quarter-finals at the expense of Cork C of I who, having won 42 at home, swept into a 2-0 lead through drag flicks by Ali Dunne in the return leg at Blaris on Saturday.

But Mark Raphael drove clear to reduce the leeway before the interval and then in a rousing last-ditch resurgence Daniel Clarke, Julian Stevenson and Jonathan Bloomfield (on the final hooter) levelled matters on aggregate. Although the Munstermen still hung on in extra-time, Lisnagarvey avoided a shootout as Graham Bittle scored the decisive goal with three minutes to spare. So the 7-6 margin was the tightest of the four pairings.

Annadale, with a 3-2 advantage from their visit to Dublin, faced a determined opening onslaught from the defending champions Glenanne (missing Joe Brennan) at Lough Moss.

Nazir Munir was especially prominent, but the Annadale goalkeeper Johnny Moore again played a leading role in defying the Irish Senior Cup holders, who also suffered the setback of a breakaway goal by Chris Jackson.

An equaliser by John Goulding before half-time renewed Glenanne's hopes, but Annadale, notably through David Smyth, controlled the game sufficiently in the second period for Philip Morrow to make it 2-1 on the day and 5-3 overall.

Pembroke, pretty safe after their trip to Cookstown, used the 4-2 cushion to experiment to a degree at Serpentine Avenue. They were two up at the interval through Francis de Rosa from a set-piece second phase and Gordon Elliott from an astute pass by Paddy Good.

Although Garth Cuddy, with a powerful flick, and the darting Andy Barbour saved the Tyrone side's pride by squaring the match at 2-2, an intricate Pemboke movement finished with Devin Donnelly setting up Stephen Stewart for the home team's third goal (and 7-4 overall).

In Cork, Harlequins, with Wesley Bateman and Jason Black to the fore, held off Corinthians' efforts to get on terms from the 3-2 Dublin tie and in the end a short-corner put away by Dave Eakins made it 4-2 on aggregate.