Leaders to ease back into action

WOMEN'S HOCKEY : With three of the top four in the Leinster first division playing three of the bottom four tomorrow afternoon…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: With three of the top four in the Leinster first division playing three of the bottom four tomorrow afternoon it should largely be 'as you were' in the table upon resumption of the league season.

Only third-placed Railway Union have, theoretically, a tricky task, playing a Three Rock side that had one win from their first five games and then three from their next four - an improvement that lifted them away from the relegation zone and up to fifth at the season's half-way point.

The bottom two, Clontarf and Genesis, will hope leaders Loreto and second-placed Hermes prove rusty after the Christmas break but are unlikely to add to their points totals when they meet at Mount Temple and St Andrews respectively.

Old Alexandra, a point behind Railway, who are shaping up to be their chief rivals for a top-three finish, can't afford any slip-ups against UCD at Milltown while Corinthian and Pembroke Wanderers, neither of whom can be happy with their position after the first nine games, meet at Whitechurch.

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Alexandra and Loreto will be back in action on Sunday when they play their postponed Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup quarter-final - the winners will play whoever emerges from Monday's tie between Railway and Hermes II. Hermes' firsts will play the winners of Loreto II v Corinthian in the second semi-final.

WEEKEND FIXTURES:

TOMORROW: Mostley Cup - Second round: DCU v Carlow, St Claire's (Glasnevin), 11.0; Kinvara v Yeats County, Dangan, 1.30; Newbridge v Cookstown II, Newbridge College, 1.0; Dungarvan v Cooke, Garryduff, 4.0; Kilkenny II v Mallow, Kilkenny College 12.0; Enniscorthy II v Weston, Loreto Kilkenny, 12.0; Wexford II v Cobh, Loreto Kilkenny 2.30. Sunday: Moyne- Thurles v Portlaoise, Scanlon Park, 12.30. Leinster League - Division One: Corinthian v Pembroke Wanderers, Whitechurch, 1.0; Hermes v Genesis, Booterstown, 1.15; Clontarf v Loreto, Clontarf, 2.0; Railway Union v Three Rock, Sandymount, 2.0; Old Alexandra v UCD, Milltown, 2.30. Division Two: Skerries v Old Alexandra II, Dardistown, 11.0; Muckross v Loreto II, Donnybrook, 12.30; Trinity v Glenanne, Santry, 1.0; Diocesan v Loreto III, Rathgar, 1.0; Ulster League - Section One: Ballymena v Pegasus, Ballymena, 2.30; Randalstown v Ards, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Victorians v Omagh, Olympia Leisure Centre, 2.30.

SUNDAY: Irish Junior Cup - Second round: Pembroke Wanderers II v Armagh, Serpentine Avenue, 1.45; Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup - Quarter-final: Old Alexandra v Loreto, Milltown, 2.30.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times