MENS HOCKEY: The achievement of Aer Lingus in qualifying on Saturday for the finals of the All-Ireland Championship for the first time was not as dramatic as the gallant failure of Pembroke Wanderers to join the high fliers in Cork next weekend.

While Aer Lingus gained a 2-2 draw at Banbridge in the second leg of the quarter-final to advance on a 6-4 aggregate, Pembroke's 5-5 extravaganza with Lisnagarvey at Serpentine Avenue for a 7-7 aggregate meant they were eliminated on away goals - the crucial score being plundered by Mark Tumilty in the last minute.

In the most pulsating, open spectacle in the 13-year history of the competition, Pembroke had seized a 5-4 lead with 10 minutes to go but from a final thrust down the right by Tim Cockram, the ball came across for Tumilty to find the target.

With Brian Waring and Mark Raphael forcing the pace, Lisnagarvey were 3-2 ahead at the interval through two short-corner strikes by Jonathan Bloomfield and a crisply taken goal by Cockram, to which the quick-firing Alan Sothern replied twice.

Inspired by Alan Giles, Pembroke launched a full press in the second half, as they had done in the away game. First, Michael O'Connor lashed home a reverse-stick equaliser and although Ivan Steen put Lisnagarvey back in the lead, John Jermyn whipped a drag flick to the net for 4-4.

When Giles pierced the cover for Colm Brady to drive Pembroke in front for the first time, victory was within reach. But despite noble defending by Jermyn, Stephen Smyth and Colin Kelly, Lisnagarvey managed to generate the vital, final breakthrough.

At Havelock Park, Banbridge took the lead through Mark Carson in the fourth minute but Aer Lingus settled down on a resolute flight path to gradually gain control. Early in the second half, David Bane equalised from a drag flick and then Adrian Sweeney made it 2-1 by touching home a cross from Jim Dunne. It was really a lost cause for Banbridge when Ross McCandless got a second goal back.

The game was notable for fine goalkeeping by Gareth Lennox for Banbridge and Nigel Grothier for the visitors, for whom David Deasy also played a valuable defensive role.

So, Aer Lingus fly into unknown territory in joining the elite at Garryduff, with Lisnagarvey and Annadale looking powerful for Ulster and Cork Harlequins offering staunch Munster resistance.

Harlequins completed the conquest of Glenanne (8-2 on aggregate) by scoring from five short corners out of eight through John Hobbs and David Eakins. Annadale finished with a 9-0 margin against Cork C of I.