The third round of the Nissan-sponsored Irish Senior Cup proved to be a further weeding-out process with all the second division sides being eliminated, while Corinthians and Railway Union were among the first division clubs who had to bite the bullet in tough away assignments against teams of equal status.

Corinthians managed to force Cork C of I into extra time at Garryduff with Colin Stewart cancelling out a goal by Nigel Buttimer before the home side powered their way to a 5-1 victory. Colin Hanna, Darren Hanna, Alastair Dunne and Mark Black finished off the visitors' resistance, if largely from set-pieces.

Annadale's 4-0 margin against Railway Union at Lough Moss was in part explained by the fact that the Dubliners' leading marksman, Graham Berry, limped out after 10 minutes with a recurrence of his hamstring injury while his fellow South African, goalkeeper David Staniforth, did not play at all because of a similar injury.

A new recruit, Stuart Dalziel, was not found lacking between the posts but Annadale struck twice before the interval and again early in the second half. Andrew McBride played a leading role in the Belfast side's advance along with Chris Jackson.

Also travelling north, Pembroke Wanderers failed to break down Cookstown in the first half but showed their resolve in coming away with a 3-0 win, with Simon Kershaw scoring after the restart and Trevor Dunne and Stephen Stewart also adding goals. In Antrim, Charlie Carroll, with a hat-trick, outscored Alan Kelly, as Three Rock Rovers prevailed in a 4-3 cliff-hanger against the promotion-bound Section Two team. Overall, it was a high-scoring round with Johnny Weir having the distinction of notching six goals as Raphoe overwhelmed Collegians 8-1 at Omagh. Rory Madeley (4) and Mark Carson (3) struck heavily for Banbridge against UCD while Neil Cooke and Paul Hollway hit three apiece for the holders, Instonians, in their dismissal of Bandon.

Cliff Bailey of Monkstown enjoyed his trip to Kilkenny with a four-goal haul in a 7-3 Christmas extravaganza. In contrast, one of the tightest ties was at Kilkeel where a solitary strike by Dave Bane gave Aer Lingus an encouraging success. Dublin YMCA also had a change of fortune as they reached the last-16 stage by edging out Belvedere in a shoot-out.