WOMEN'S HOCKEY: While Connacht champions Galway and Munster runners-up Church of Ireland meet in the preliminary round of the Club Championships in Limerick tomorrow, with the winner facing the uninviting task of playing Pegasus over two legs in the quarter-finals, Hermes' and Railway Union's battle for second place in the Leinster first division will come to its conclusion over the weekend.
The teams are level on points, games won and goal difference going into their meeting tomorrow but Railway occupy second place, having scored three more goals than Hermes.
The Irish Cup winners, though, have a game in hand - against champions Loreto, who they play on Sunday. While Hermes and Railway are guaranteed a place in the club quarter-finals finishing second or third will determine whether they play Cork Harlequins or Ballymoney over two legs - second in Leinster plays the Munster champions, third plays the Ulster runners-up.
A draw or a Railway win tomorrow would leave Hermes needing to take something from Loreto on Sunday. Though Loreto, who meet Randalstown in the cup quarter-finals, have the title sewn up they will be aiming to complete their second successive league season unbeaten. Their last defeat? To Old Alexandra in February 2003.
Perhaps the worst kept secret in Irish hockey was made official this week - this year's club finals will be held outside Dublin. Garryduff in Cork, with its new €1 million water-based pitch and facilities, will host the event over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Irish hockey has a new sponsor in the form of Howard Holdings, the Irish property development firm. The Irish Hockey Association provided no details of the deal.
FIXTURES: Club Championships: Preliminary round: Galway v Church of Ireland, University of Limerick, 1.30. Leinster League: Division One: Tomorrow: Railway Union v Hermes, Sandymount, 12.30. Sunday: Hermes v Loreto, Booterstown, 1.30.
LEINSTER FIRST DIVISION - TOP THREE
P W D L F A Pts
Loreto 17 15 2 0 64 12 47
Railway 17 13 1 3 44 16 40
Hermes 16 13 1 2 41 13 40
