Catholic Institute ensured the women's EYHL title chase will go down to the wire as the Limerick side beat league leaders Pembroke 4-1, cutting the gap to two points with one game to go.
It was their eighth successive home league win and completes an unbeaten home campaign, picking up 25 out of 27 points on offer.
For Pembroke, they came into the tie needing a draw or better to win the title for the first time but they struggled without the services of Sinead Loughran, Emily Beatty, Isy Delamer, Amy-Kate Trevor, Hayley O’Donnell and Leah McGuire with their backline overhauled.
Early goals from Laura Foley and Hannah Kelly set them on their way and while Pembroke got one back through Gillian Pinder, they could not force their way back into the game after Roisin Upton and Foley’s second put Insta 4-1 clear.
Insta now face eighth-placed Belfast Harlequins away while Pembroke have something to think about when they go to ninth-placed Muckross on the last day of the season to determine the title.
Just below them, Pegasus comfortably beat already relegated Cork Harlequins 11-0 with Alex Speers scoring four times to stay in third place. They will be hoping for an Institute slip to open the door for them to nick second and a Champions Trophy semi-final spot.
Loreto all but assured themselves a quarter-final place when they beat Muckross 2-0 at Grange Road with corner goals from Christina Hamill and Hannah Matthews in the second half making the difference. The Beaufort side are in fourth as a result while the jostling just below them has plenty of intrigue.
UCD beat Old Alex for the second time in three days with Sarah McAuley and Katherine Egan striking in the second half. Those efforts propelled the students to a 2-0 result which keeps them in sixth place and the last of the quarter-final play-off places while Alex dropped down to fifth.
Railway Union are just outside those play-off spots in seventh despite a strong 4-1 win at Belfast Harlequins. Emma Smyth and Natalie Lyttle exchanged first half goals but a three-goal Railway salvo from Smyth, Ailish Long and Zara Delany spun the points their way.
It means lots of decisions still to be determined on the final day of action next Saturday with the title, the second EY Champions Trophy spot and the quarter-final playoff line-up all to be determined, along with who will be relegated between Belfast Harlequins and Muckross.
In EYHL Division Two, Pool 1’s major issues look to be done and dusted thanks to Corinthians' 3-2 comeback success over UCC. It assures them of second spot with the Cork side guaranteed third due to the losing bonus point with Trinity eliminated despite a 3-1 win over Galway.
In Pool 2, Cork C of I moved into playoff contention with a 3-2 away win over NUIG, leaping them above Lurgan - who lost 4-0 at home to Queens - into third place.
It means Lurgan must now break Monkstown’s 100% record to have a chance of going through but even with a win, they must get a favour from elsewhere.
