Pembroke Wanderers' invincibility was severely tested by Avoca on Saturday as the Leinster champions were confined to a 1-1 draw at Serpentine Avenue. The varied attributes of Cliff Bailey, Colm Brady and Nigel Kingston in the visitors' midfield emerged as a considerable factor in the outcome.
Pembroke's initial pressure was rewarded when Gordon Elliott zipped through to give his side the lead but Avoca's resistance yielded a penalty-stroke equaliser from Trevor Dagg before the interval. Two accomplished defences dominated the second half, with Stephen Kinsella and Charlie Henderson being especially alert.
Glenanne and Corinthians were also well matched in a more open affair at Tallaght (3-3) though it was a last-gasp strike by Robbie Burns that saved a point for the visitors. Aer Lingus were unfortunate in not achieving a similar result against Railway Union at Park Avenue.
Adrian Sweeney drove Aer Lingus into the lead and although Brendan Parsons (penalty) and Paul O'Brien put Railway 2-1 up at half-time, Dave Bane made it 22 as his side were more than a match for the home brigade (with their five South Africans) in the second half. While Eamonn Bane and John Leavy excelled in the northsiders' defence, a winning goal was surrendered, if fittingly, to local maestro Paul O'Brien.
