Irish Senior Cup semi-finals

Pembroke 4 (Justin Sherriff 2, John McInroy, Alan Sothern) Instonians 3 (Mark Gleghorne 2, Andrew Cousins)
This match report should have been very different. A first half that was dominated by the skills of Justin Sherriff seemed to have had Pembroke strolling to an easy win. I left the ground at 3-0 to do another job and the game was as good as up.

The game's opener was of sublime quality, Sherriff beating three down the left wing, making space in the circle to wrong-foot the keeper and bang in at the near post. McInroy's tap in from Gordy Elliott's reverse also came after stunning individual skills from Sherriff.

The third, early in the second half, was more fortuitous as Inst self-destructed. Preparing an overhead, under no pressure an Inst defender inexplicably stopped the ball deliberately with his back-stick to stop the ball running away from him just inside his 25. A penalty corner was given but saved. The resultant free out was hit straight at Sherriff at the top of the circle, which he gleefully banged home.

Inst, up to that point, had shown absolutely nothing of note going forward, with only one Mark Irwin shot to their name. I left the ground and all hell broke loose in the closing 15 minutes and turn the game into a classic cup tie to remember (from what those at the ground tell me).

Mark Gleghorne got one back before getting a second drag-flick with 45 seconds remaining. And Mark Cousins forced extra time 30 seconds later with a reverse.

But their revival was short-lived, as Alan Sothern banged in the golden goal two minutes into injury time to snatch a victory they looked to have thrown away.

Lisnagarvey 2 (Timmy Cockram, Mark Robinson) Monkstown 3 (Ian Allen 2, Gareth Watkins)
Monkstown made it an all-Leinster final for the first time since 2001 when the Glens beat YMCA, and now have a chance of claiming the cup for the first time since 1914. They were outstanding throughout, opening the score early as in the semis, within 15 seconds through Ian Allen.

They were unlucky not to be further ahead and were pegged back by Timmy Cockram - the competition's top scorer. And Mark Robinson put Garvey into the lead in the second half. But Gareth Watkins strike with seven minutes to go and Ian Allen's late, late goal turn the game around at Hillsborough.