HOCKEY: A penalty in the dying minutes in Tallaght clinched a draw for Glenanne against Corinthians in their opening men's Leinster Senior League Division One game, Devon Keogh grabbing the second of his two goals for the 3-3 equaliser from the spot.
Corinthians had gone a goal down but began to win midfield, particularly in the second half, to come back strongly and lead 3-2 going into the final minute. James Benson hit a cracking third goal from the crown of the circle for the visitors to add to Adrian Missen's defection from a cross and Ivan Offington's strike from second phase after a short corner.
Just as it looked as though Corinthians had earned their win Glenanne won a late short corner. Paul Fitzpatrick, moving right at the crown of the circle, was clumsily challenged by one of the runners in the Corinthians defence and the penalty was awarded, Keogh finishing off and Corinthians reacting furiously.
Pembroke came through their first match of the season with much greater ease and began the campaign in a way they would wish to continue, hitting five goals against visitors Aer Lingus.
Although Pembroke are still without their outfield internationals, Justin Sherriff and Gordon Elliott, both of whom have taken time out following the European Championships earlier this month, the club's acquisition of Richard Gash and Colm Hanna from Cork has certainly strengthened the side.
Five against Aer Lingus without their international strikers and Scottish international Paddy Conlon, is pretty good going by any measure. Stephen Stewart collected two as did Dougie Good, with Peter Long also grabbing a goal for 5-1.
At YMCA, Andrew Walker continued the family's goal-scoring legacy at the club by adding his name to the score sheet for the second successive week. Having nabbed a late goal against Three Rock Rovers last week, Walker did the same again and along with David Johnson extinguished any hopes that Railway Union had entertained at Wesley College. Both of the home goals arrived in the last five minutes for the 2-0 win.
Three Rock Rovers had no match over the weekend as they were scheduled to play Trinity, who are not yet back in action after the summer.
LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE Division One: Glenanne 3 (D Keogh 2, one pen, G Shaw) Corinthians 3 (J Benson, I Offington, A Missen); Pembroke Wanderers 5 (S Stewart 2, D Good 2, P Long) Aer Lingus 1 (T Parsons); YMCA 2 (A Walker, D Johnson) Railway Union 0. Division Two: Weston 0 Clontarf 2 (P Maybury, D Matthews); Bray 2 (R Pearson, G Evans) Avoca 1 (E Gallanagh); Skerries 4 (R McMahon, T O'Neil, T Noonan, A Turner) Portrane 2 (M McCann, L Felton); St James's Gate 1 (D Smith) St Brendan's/Phoenix Park 0; Suttonians 2 (C Gillette, K Crawford) Naas 0.
