Catholic Institute's bright start to the EY Hockey League season continued on Saturday when they beat Cork Harlequins 2-0 in their Munster derby to go joint top of the table with Pegasus.
Institute's Irish international Naomi Carroll had them a goal up by half time and Leah Clery sealed the points with another score in the final quarter.
That is two wins and two draws from their opening four games, the Limerick side and Pegasus, who meet in Belfast next week, now the league’s only unbeaten teams after Pembroke Wanderers suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
That came at the hands of Old Alexandra at Serpentine Avenue, Emma Russell getting the only goal of the game in the third quarter when she turned home Jessica McGirr's cross.
Pegasus, meanwhile, played out a scoreless draw against Loreto in a game that saw both defences on top, with few clear chances created.
Just one point separates the top six sides, Railway Union and UCD joining Pembroke and Alexandra on seven points. The students had a comfortable 5-0 win over Belfast Harlequins, while Railway edged Muckross 2-1, Lily Lloyd and Katie Fearon getting their scores.
Hockey League: Cork Harlequins 0, Catholic Institute 2 (N Carroll, L Clery); Muckross 1 (S Barnwell), Railway Union 2 (L Lloyd, K Fearon); Pembroke Wanderers 0, Old Alexandra 1 (E Russell); UCD 5 (G Keane, K Egan, H McLoughlin, S McAuley, S Cole), Belfast Harlequins 0; Loreto 0, Pegasus 0.
Irish Senior Cup–First round: Banbridge 3, Ards 2; Trinity 0, Corinthian 3; Monkstown 1, UCC 2; Queens 2, Church of Ireland 1; Ulster Elks 3, Ballymoney 2.
