Men's Hockey: Dublin University retained their place in Leinster's Premier Division by shaking off UCD's promotion challenge in an invigorating play-off at Serpentine yesterday.
A four-goal haul by Peter Blakeney was the decisive factor.
Roly Budd also notched a valuable score for Trinity to make it 4-3 after UCD had fought back to 3-3 through Greg Holmes, with two strikes, and their captain Andrew Kenny.
Meanwhile, the future of Aer Lingus remains bright, not least on the hockey field. If, next weekend at Havelock Park, the airport players can maintain the momentum which yielded a 4-2 first-leg profit at Banbridge's expense in their all-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday, they will be worthy debutants in the championship finale in Cork in a fortnight's time.
Twice, in the opening half, Ross McCandless drove Banbridge ahead from short corners but, also from set-pieces, Trevor Parsons and the dynamic David Bane responded for the home side.
Although Eugene Magee threatened to give the visitors the edge after the interval, Eamonn Bane and Derek O'Gorman launched Aer Lingus into a storming finish. First, Parsons pounced to make it 3-2 and in the final minute Adrian Sweeney scored to add great interest to the return game.
Pembroke Wanderers will also have a window open for their home match against Lisnagarvey after recovering from a 2-0 half-time deficit to earn a 2-2 draw in Ulster.
Goals by John Gray and Tim Cockram seemed to leave the cup holders in control but Alan Sothern reduced the gap after John Jermyn had seized on a defensive lapse. Then Sothern put away the equaliser with 40 seconds to spare.
A last-minute score, engineered by Conor Harte for Paul Lombard, was significant, too, in Harlequins's 3-1 win against Glenanne in Dublin, giving the Munster side a cushion for the second leg.
Harlequins went two up through David Eakins scores but Glenanne resisted defiantly, if only to gain a reply from Gary Shaw.
Annadale, showing their full potential, booked their May bank holiday weekend in Cork with a 6-0 first-leg defeat of C of I, who now will be sociable hosts, off the field, for the season's finale at Garryduff.
