Women's HockeyNot the best of weekends for Loreto, who on Saturday relinquished their lead in the Leinster first division, on goal difference, before being on the receiving end of a tricky away tie in yesterday's draw for the third round of the Irish Senior Cup.

If the Dublin club are to become the first to win the cup three years running since Pembroke Wanderers' four-in-a-row, over half a century ago, they will have to get by Randalstown, who have been experiencing something of a revival in Ulster, where they are second in the league.

Cork Harlequins, who lost to Loreto in last year's final, have been drawn at home to Knock, whom they beat 4-0 in last season's quarter-finals. Home draws against Genesis, Bandon and Railway Union make Hermes, Pegasus and Old Alexandra firm favourites for a place in the last eight, while UCD and Corinthian will hope home advantage can give them the edge against Belfast Harlequins and Ards.

Members of the Irish squad will not be allowed play in the third round - they will be in the US that weekend for a training camp - which means Ballymoney could be without four key players against Coleraine, the only all-Ulster game of the round.

An equaliser at the death from Kathy Johnson gave Corinthian a draw (2-2) against Loreto in the league on Saturday, lifting them clear of Pembroke Wanderers, who lost 2-0 at home to UCD, into fourth place . A fortnight ago Johnson stole a point for Corinthian in their 2-2 draw with Old Alexandra, after they had trailed 2-0; last week they fought back to beat Victorians 3-1 in the Irish Cup - that doughtiness continues to give the Fred McDarby-coached team their finest season.

A 6-0 drubbing of Trinity lifted Hermes back to the top of the table, on goal difference, Aoife Mitchell and Christine Quinlan scoring two apiece, while a Trish Conway hat-trick helped Old Alexandra beat Three Rock 7-0 and move to third in the table.

Meanwhile, four wins out of four at Garryduff gave Ulster their fifth under-18 interprovincial title in a row. An emphatic triumph it was too: they scored 15 goals and conceded none. Leinster beat Munster 3-0 on Saturday to be runners-up.

Meanwhile, the 20-player Irish squad that will travel to the US in January for a 10-day training camp will be announced today.