WOMEN'S HOCKEY ROUND-UP:UCD, THE 2009 winners of the competition, and Ballymoney, victors 10 years ago, have made it through to the semi-finals of the Irish Senior Cup after triumphing in their quarter-final ties on Saturday.
Loreto’s hopes, though, of retaining the trophy they won last season were ended by Pegasus in Belfast.
Goals from Vanessa Surgeoner and Kate McConnell gave the Ulster champions their second victory over Loreto this season, following their Irish Hockey League win in November, while a golden goal in extra-time by Kirstey Lammey saw Ulster Elks eliminate Armagh in the day’s other rearranged second round tie.
Elks face Hermes in the last eight, with Pegasus at home to Lurgan.
The winners of those two ties will then join UCD and Ballymoney in the semi-finals. The students ended Munster interest in the competition by beating Cork Harlequins 3-2, completing a miserable week for the team that saw its chances of winning the Munster League for a 16th successive season fade with a 2-0 defeat by UCC.
Ballymoney, meanwhile, had a fine 2-1 win over Old Alexandra, Julie Nelson and Jessica Lynch getting their goals.
On the league front, Hermes and Railway Union closed the gap on leaders Loreto with comfortable victories over Bray and Glenanne, respectively. Hermes are now just a point adrift, Railway another point back, but Loreto have two games in hand on both clubs – they play Railway at Park Avenue tonight.
Irish Senior Cup – Second round: Pegasus 2 (V Surgeoner, K McConnell), Loreto 0; Ulster Elks 1 (K Lammey), Armagh 0, after extra-time. Third round: UCD 3 (C Watkins 2, C Hill), Cork Harlequins 2 (C Sargent, R McSharry); Old Alexandra 1 (R Griffith), Ballymoney 2 (J Nelson, J Lynch). Revised quarter-final draw:Pegasus v Lurgan, Ulster Elks v Hermes. UCD and Ballymoney are already through to the semi-finals.
Leinster League – Division One: Railway Union 6 (C Joyce 2, J McDonnell, J Deacon, A Speers, N Evans), Glenanne 0; Pembroke Wanderers 1 (S Clarke), Trinity 0; Hermes 5 (E Russell, K McComish, E Horan, J Burke, A O'Flynn), Bray 1 (C O'Toole).
