The closest and most dramatic game of the day came at The Hills where the home side edged out Leinster in a real thriller.

Batting first, The Hills rallied from 105 for 5 after 31 overs to post 252 for 6 thanks to an unbeaten 125 from Oliver Horlock (12 fours, 4 sixes), sharing stands of 73 with Edson Silva - who cleared the ropes four times in a 28-ball 40 - and an unbroken 74 for the seventh with Matthew Weldon (34*).

Leinster looked dead and buried as they were reduced to 171 for 8, but a 9th wicket stand of 79 between Jai Moondra (41) and Bilal Azhar (37) meant they started the last over with three runs needed and still two wickets intact. Moondra was run out by Horlock from the first, and skipper Tomas Rooney-Murphy had his counterpart well caught off the next ball much to the delight of the home support. The Hills' reward is an away day trip to Pembroke on the 15th of June.

Balbriggan set up a last eight clash at North County as they beat Malahide convincingly by six wickets at The Village. Robbie Foulkes (41) shared a second wicket stand of 76 with Adam Doyle (31) but from 123 for 3, Malahide lost seven wickets for 49 runs to be all out for 172 - three wickets for Jordan Hollard and Sam Willemse.

Conor Fletcher (24) and Ghanim Dara (24) put on 41 in five overs, but the match defining stand came between Chris De Freitas and Greg Ford - playing against his old club. They sped their side to victory with a fourth wicket partnership of 82 in 11 overs, with De Freitas hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes in a 40-ball unbeaten 47, while Ford made a 35-ball 43 (4 fours, 2 sixes). Mike Frost (3-22) bowled well in a losing cause.

Dublin University had little trouble as they brushed aside North Kildare at College Park to win by 9 wickets. Irish international Matthew Humphreys took four wickets as Kildare stumbled to 93 all out - Asadullah Ahmadzai making 36, with Humphreys well supported by Theo Dempsey (3-20) and Yash Bala (2-20).

The chase was a routine won as Macdara Cosgrave hit ten boundaries in a 50-ball unbeaten 60, sharing a half century stand with Jamie Forbes (18*). They will now face Railway Union at home next month.

Shane Getkate powered Phoenix into the last eight with a brilliant hundred in the Park derby. The Irish international hit 7 sixes and fours in a 101-ball 103, sharing an entertaining fourth wicket stand of 91 in nine overs with Tyrone Kane - who 35-ball 43 included four fours and two sixes.

From 177 for 3, Phoenix faltered as they lost seven wickets for 32 runs to be 209 all out - four wickers for Raviprasad. Kane then turned his attention to the ball and his three early wickets as well as two for James Maginnis saw Civil Service dismissed for just 89.

Clontarf's excellent start to the season continued as they produced a fine batting effort to oust Merrion at Anglesea Road. David Delany (3-42) struck two early blows for the Castle Avenue side  removing Stephen Doheny and Connor Blaxall-Hill cheaply, before Swapnill Modgill counterattacked with an even time 61 (9 fours) in a stand of 91 with John Anderson. Three wickets fell quickly and at 108 for 5, Merrion were in serious diffs. Anderson though rebuilt and he and Sean Stanton (58*) added an unbroken 138 in 22 overs to take their side to 246 for 5 - Anderson making exactly 100 (8 fours).

Clontarf eased to victory with almost 10 overs to spare thanks to three significant partnerships. They were set on their way by an opening stand of 80 in 11.3 overs between Seamus Lynch (32) and Mitchell Thompson, who top-scored with a run-a-ball 79 (7 fours, 3 sixes) adding a further 72 for the second wicket with Eoghan Delany.

The former skipper and overseas professional Patrick Xie made contrasting 50's, but each were valuable in their own way. Xie was the third and final wicket to fall - his 39-ball 57 including 9 fours and 2 sixes, while Delany ended 51 not out (3 fours).

North County were comfortable winners over Terenure at Balrothery. Niqash Ali ploughed a lonely furrow with 55 (6 fours, 3 sixes) out of a visitors total of 123. Sean Sludds picked up four wickets, while there were two apiece for Abdul Ghaffar and Usman Azhar. Brian Dunphy went first ball of the reply, but Jamie Grassi's run-a-ball 33 (7 fours) got County back on track and a fourth wicket half century stand between Niall McGovern and Hunter Kindley who each made 30 sealed the six wickets win.

Nathan McGuire hit 130 but in a losing cause as Rush lost by 40 runs at Railway Union. The home side posted 243 thanks to a half century from captain Philippe Le Roux - he top-scored with 56 adding 78 for the fourth wicket with Sri Karpe (39). Liam McCarthy hit a 31-ball 40 (4 fours, 2 sixes) but five wickets for Nasir Totakhil saw Railway all out for 243.

The chase was all about McGuire who thumped 17 fours and 3 sixes in a 102-ball 130, but received little support as Rush were all out for 203 - five wickets for Ashil Prakash and three for Liam McCarthy.

Jack Tector's century and five wickets for Gavin Hoey ensured there were no dramas for holders Pembroke as they progressed serenely into the quarter-finals of the Senior Cup with a 164-run win over Adamstown.

Tector made 109 (11 fours, 1 six) while Greg Hollins (31), Mark Berry (27), and JJ Garth (22) all chipped in to a total of 234 for 9.

The home side were skittled out for just 70 - five wickets for Gavin Hoey and three for skipper Paul Lawson (3-10) in the emphatic win.