Glenanne, refusing to yield in central defence, again took full points from Corinthians in a 2-0 win at St Mark's on Saturday which keeps places wide open in the Leinster Senior League for the three all-Ireland play-off berths.

As many as seven teams remain in the running at the halfway stage, though Pembroke Wanderers - now back in the lead following their 10-0 defeat of Kilkenny - are showing signs of pulling clear of the pack.

The indefatigable Glenanne centre-back Rory O'Donoghue, with earnest back-up from Devon Kehoe, kept Corinthians's top scorer Colin Stewart out of range while Stephen Butler put away a penalty stroke for the home side in a laborious opening half. The issue was sealed when Graham Shaw combined with Mark Lambe to score from open play 13 minutes from the final whistle. Three Rock Rovers also suffered an away reverse, losing their unbeaten record in succumbing 2-1 to Railway Union at Park Avenue. Charlie Carroll gave Rovers the lead but Graham Berry replied from two penalty strokes before the interval.

There was encouragement for universities' hockey with UCD, with a Graham O'Meara hat-trick, beating Larne 4-0 at Mossley to emerge as the only second-divison side from the South to earn a place in the third round of the Irish Senior Cup.