MEN'S HOCKEY: The national panel training session at Belfield over the weekend left several clubs without their leading figures in Leinster Senior League circles on Saturday, though this was not a factor in the novelty of all five matches yielding wins for the away teams.
Three Rock Rovers, indeed, had no call-ups as they remained clearly in top spot with a 1-0 defeat of Railway Union at Park Avenue.
Peter McConnell, outstanding in midfield along with Phelie Maguire, found an opening for Garry Ringwood to score the only goal just before the interval.
A save by Rob Howley prevented the margin from being increased by a McConnell drag-flick scorcher in the second half.
Glenanne, now in second place, coped without Ian Clarke and Graham Shaw in beating Avoca 4-1 at Rathdown, yet it was well into the second period before Eddie O'Malley jnr opened the visitors' account as the bottom-placed side resisted encouragingly.
Pembroke reclaimed a top-three berth in overcoming UCD 2-1 at Belfield, where Simon Kershaw ensured that full points went to the former champions.
YMCA missed their resourceful playmaker Will Powderly but they managed to defeat Monkstown 2-1 at Whitechurch Park.
Rob Fox put Stephen Barry through for the decisive goal approaching half-time.
Aer Lingus snapped up their chances to surprise Corinthians, 3-2, at Whitechurch Park. A cross by Conor Connolly produced a finely taken equaliser by Adrian Sweeney to cancel out an early strike by Mark Magnier and John McInerney's side went on to enjoy the greater fortune.
In the second round of the Irish Senior Cup, Trinity and Naas battled all the way through extra time to eliminate Parkview and PSNI, respectively, in Belfast.
John Blakeney scored twice for the students in a 3-3 joust before the home team were unable to beat goalkeeper Johnny Royds in the shoot-out. Naas also won on strokes after being held to 2-2 over 100 minutes.
Naas have a chance of making further progress in being drawn away to UCC in the last-32 stage while Trinity will be at home to Mossley.
The most interesting tie on December 14th will involve Monkstown and Glenanne.
IRISH SENIOR CUP
Second Round
Bangor 2 (M Daniel, G Morton) Harlequins 1 (P Graham); Raphoe 4 (J Weir 2, A Witherow, K Cowan) Armagh 1 (G Reddick); North Down 7 (A McGimpsey 3, D Rice 3, S Hunter) Suttonians 0; Parkview 3 (P Harvey 2, C James) Dublin University 5 (J Blakney 2, N Wheeler aet and strokes); Cliftonville 0 Antrim 1 (L Kane); QUB 7 (O Logan 3, D Simpson, D Smyth, C Elder, D Falls) St James Gate 1 (E Woods); Skerries 1 Newry 3; PSNI 2, Naas 2 (C Hill, P Young) aet, Naas won 4-2 on strokes; Clontarf 2 (R MCMullen, C McMullen) Portrane 1 (D Ledwidge).
THIRD ROUND DRAW
Aer Lingus v Lisnagarvey; Annadale v Clontarf; Avoca v Pembroke Wanderers; Bangor v Queen's University; Belvedere v Instonians; Cookstown v Raphoe; Corinthians v Kilkeel; Cork C of I v Catholic Institute; Cork Harlequins v Antrim; Monkstown v Glenanne; NICS v Banbridge; North Down v YMCA; Dublin Univ. v Mossley; Newry v Railway Union; Three Rock Rovers v UCD; UCC v Naas. Matches to be played on December 14th.
