The closest result among a miscellany of cup matches over the weekend came in the Leinster under-21 final at Grange Road yesterday when Glenanne recaptured the Derek Price Trophy with a 1-0 win over Three Rock Rovers.
Glenanne's more vigorous performance gave them a well earned success, which was reflected in a short-corner count of 10-4, with Stephen Butler getting one shot out of Shane Davy's reach in the 27th minute. The margin should have been increased after the interval but Davy, notably, managed to foil Alan Goulding on the point of scoring from an opening by Graham Shaw.
Rovers, though Alan Bothwell set a resolute example in defence, found themselves constantly closed down in midfield by vigilant covering, particularly by Conor Lynch and also by John Goulding, lying back from his nominal role of centre-forward.
Gordon Elliott posed the greatest threat but Rovers rarely got within range of the target. Indeed their only chance of the second half was from a corner on fulltime but Paul Bastible saved valuably from Elliott.
Before the start, a minute's silence was observed in memory of Alan Tolerton, the former Ireland international and Monkstown coach, who died on Thursday, aged 47. Overall, it was a subdued weekend - not that one would associate solemnity with Alan, an attacker of much verve and who, first capped at the age of 19, was always ready to encourage young players.
Three Rock, for whom most of the first-team squad were involved in yesterday's junior match, also found themselves outpunched by Pembroke Wanderers (4-0) in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final on Saturday. Stephen Stewart discovered a gap for Darren Hanna to gain a firsthalf lead but Nigel Henderson felt the fire of several Robin Madeley pile-drivers and it wasn't until the closing stages that Simon Kershaw twisted his way through for two fine goals, followed by a finishing drive by Trevor Dunne.
Pembroke must now brace themselves for a St Patrick's Day Cable & Wireless meeting with Glenanne who, three up through Stephen Butler after 25 minutes, went on to beat UCD 6-0.
The Munster Cup semi-finals were also clear-cut, to say the least, with Cork C of I and Harlequins beating Belvedere and Bandon, 10-0 and 4-0, respectively, while Parkview reached the Irish Senior Cup quarter-finals for the first time in overpowering Trinity 4-0 in their replay.
GLENANNE (under-21): P Bastible; S Butler; C Lyne, D Shaw, Z Cashman; A McMahon, G Shaw, C Lynch; A Goulding, J Goulding (capt), M Lambe. Subs: J Kehoe, D Murphy.
THREE ROCK ROVERS (under-21): S Davy; N Denham, A Bothwell, R Harris, J Sleeman; P McConnell, G Ringwood, R Varian; C Carroll, G Elliott (capt), D Fleming, Subs: P Osborne, K Wilkinson.
Umpires: F Tierney, A Groves.
