HOCKEY/Men's Hockey All-Ireland Club final/Pembroke Wanderers 3 Cork Harlequins 1:Election Day is a non-runner for Pembroke Wanderers because they will be in Prague seeking maximum dividends at European championship level for their appearance again next season in the new Euro League.

This is the exhilarating prospect for Pembroke who retained the All-Ireland club championship laurels in stunning style at Belfield over the weekend.

They crushed Leinster arch rivals and Irish Senior Cup winners, Glenanne, 7-2, on Saturday and surged into a 3-0 lead in yesterday's final against Cork Harlequins before the Munstermen earned a late consolation goal.

Alan Sothern, voted player of the tournament, flicked Pembroke into the lead after seven minutes of a first half in which his side dominated.

Pembroke midfielders, notably Craig Fulton, were in dynamic form while Tim Lewis was outstanding in a resolute back four.

Cork captain Jason Black was busy trying to curb Justin Sherriff while goalkeeper Wesley Bateman's agility helped keep the scoreline to 1-0 at the interval.

Harlequins battled back in the second half, forcing David Harte to make valuable saves from John Aherne and David Eakins, but Pembroke still carried the greater cutting edge in attack.

They extended their lead when Gordon Elliott set up Sothern for his second goal and Alan Giles made it 3-0 following a quick break by Lewis on the right.

John Hobbs's late goal from Harlequins' third short corner proved too little, too late.

Paddy Conlon of Scotland hoisted the President's Trophy aloft for happy Wanderers' international brigade, including ex-Harlequins brothers, Conor and David Harte.

On Saturday, Glenanne - after an all-conquering campaign in Leinster - looked jaded as they succumbed to an inspired Pembroke in full spate from the first minute when Sothern opened the scoring to the final stages when Elliott became irrepressible. Harlequins' 2-0 defeat of Cork C of I in the second semi-final lacked the same fluidity.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS: D Harte; T Lewis, C Harte, K Twomey, R Flannery; I Symons, R Gormley, P Conlon (capt); J Sherriff, A Sothern, J McInroy. Rolling subs: C Fulton, G Elliott, A Giles, P Priestley.

CORK HARLEQUINS: W Bateman; P O'Driscoll, J Hobbs, S Nicholson, J Black (capt); M Black, D Lombard, L D'Alton; P Lombard, R Gash, D Eakins. Rolling subs: J Aherne, D Egner, E Gash.

Umpires: C Hutchinson, C Porter.