Women's Hockey: If proof were needed that Harlequins are the dominant force in Munster hockey the fact that they retained their league title on Saturday - in the month of January, mark you - should provide all the evidence required to illustrate the gap between themselves and their rivals in the province.
A 4-0 win over UCC, with two of their goals scored by Karen O'Brien, gave Harlequins more than the point they needed to make mathematically sure of the title, even if its destination was never in doubt - it was always a matter of 'when', rather than 'if ', they retained their crown.
Irish captain Rachael Kohler made it back in time from London, where she gave evidence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Ireland v Lithuania dispute on Friday, to play in the match, "thank God," as Harlequins captain Helen Costello put it.
"It's great to be so dominant in Munster," said Costello, "but on the other side it makes it hard when you go to play the likes of Pegasus and Hermes in the Irish Cup or league finals. When you sail through your matches and you're winning all around you it's easy to become a bit complacent, although I don't mean to be derogatory to the other Munster teams. We're just looking forward to the Irish Cup now (Harlequins play Knock at home on February 2nd) and the All-Irelands beyond that."
The Leinster first division title race, meanwhile, took the form of a two-horse race on Saturday after Pembroke Wanderers dropped two points in a 2-2 draw with Railway Union and UCD lost 2-1 to an understrength Loreto at Belfield. Loreto are now, realistically, Hermes' only challengers, even if they are still five points adrift of the champions.
Two goals from Linda Caulfield, the first the game's opening score shortly before half-time, sent Hermes on their way to a 3-0 win over Old Alexandra, whose goalkeeper Nikki King was taken to hospital with concussion after a late clash. By yesterday, though, she had fully recovered and was ruing having to leave St Vincent's "hotel".
Railway produced their best league result of the season, fighting back from a 2-0 half-time deficit against Pembroke through Kate Dillon and Caoilfhoinn Rowan, who scored a late equaliser.
Emma Walkin and Nikki Lyons gave Loreto the points at Belfield while a Leah Spillane goal secured Genesis a 1-0 win over Trinity, their third win of the season. A hat-trick from Australian Kylie McEniery helped Corinthian to a 4-0 win over Glenanne.
Four wins out of four, with Michelle Rainey (Pegasus), Joanne Campbell (Pegasus) and Gillian Leckey (Belfast Harlequins) providing the bulk of their goals, clinched Ulster the Junior Interprovincial title at Grange Road yesterday, ahead of runners-up Leinster who beat South East to second place on goal difference. Holders Munster, whose squad was made up largely of third team players this year, finished the tournament without a point .
