Pembroke book cup final place

PEMBROKE WANDERERS - in the final for the first time since they last won the Irish Senior Cup in 1973 - will be tackling Lisnagarvey not only for the prestigious trophy at Belfield on April 26th, but may also be meeting the Blaris brigade for the all Ireland Championship (along with Cork C of I) a week later.

While Pembroke, the Leinster champions, and Lisnagarvey both needed extra time to shake off Railway Union and Banbridge in the Nissan sponsored Cup semifinals on Saturday, the Ulster league leaders, Instonians, dropped a point in a 3-3 draw with Annadale.

So, if Lisnagarvey win their remaining three matches (at home to Cliftonville and Mossley and away to Banbridge), they will qualify again - for the all Ireland play offs.

Lisnagarvey are the only club to have recorded the double. If they were to do so again, they would succeed Instonians in the European Champions Cup while Pembroke would be Ireland's representatives in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Pembroke, of course, are also in contention for dual honours, but their strained 1-0 defeat of Railway makes them the underdogs against Lisnagarvey, who ultimately used their power to oust Banbridge, 6-3, at Blaris.

Pembroke, who will want as much practice time as possible on the Belfield pitch, were never comfortable on the Park Avenue surface as they were closed down and forced into errors by a proud and tenacious Railway performance, exemplified by the resistance of Conor O'Brien, Padraig O'Brien and Neville Kavanagh.

Indeed, if Railway had managed to put away several chances at the start of each half, they might well have achieved an upset. But Paul O'Brien was foiled largely because of Nigel Henderson's international goalkeeping expertise, and also by a clearance off the line by Turlough O Siochain who, with Francis de Rosa and Devin Donnelly, was a principal figure in Pembroke's survival.

It was the rotating Donnelly who finally forced the Railway defence to crumble at the edges, sending Simon Kershaw through to poach a penalty stroke five minutes into extra time. Paudie Carley executed the conversion with considerable ecstasy, and it was left to the gallant Barry Merriman to deny the Pembroke attackers of any further reward.

Pembroke's observer at the other semi final, Peter Murphy, may have felt initially that Lisnagarvey's strength had diminished, as it was only an Olympic class reverse stick strike by Jimmy Kirkwood that gave them the lead in the 61st minute against, Banbridge.

Then a finishing touch by Stephen Dawson forced extra time, and although Robbie Taylor put the home side ahead again from a penalty, Rory Madeley raised Banbridge hopes with a brace of goals from open play.

However, in the last 15 minutes, Lisnagarvey found their firing power. Mark Tumilty and Craig McGrugan scored from crosses by Johnny Gray to make it 4-3, before Taylor and Kirkwood (in his quest for a 10th medal) completed the tally.

Meanwhile, domestic issues have largely been settled in Leinster, with it being confirmed over the weekend that St James's Gate (with astroturf to be laid at the Iveagh grounds) will keep their place in the second division while Skerries and Naas are relegated.

There were stout goalkeeping performances in yesterday's branch cup finals at Grange Road. Eric Murphy played a leading role in St James's Gate III's 3-0 defeat of Glenanne IV in the junior decider, with stalwart Karl Kennedy taking the striking honours, while Paul Bastable took the accolades for Glenanne II in the Railway final. He confined Corinthians II to a goal by Guy Banton, whereas Keith Fishbourne (penalty stroke) and Mark Lambe (2) found the target for the Tallaght side.