WOMEN'S HOCKEY:WHILE REIGNING Munster and Ulster champions Cork Harlequins and Pegasus are playing catch-up in their respective leagues, Railway Union returned to the top of the Leinster table this week after their 5-2 win away to Old Alexandra. With seven games to go, they're back on course to retain their title after a recent defeat to Hermes, but it remains the tightest of three-way battles.
All three contenders play teams from the bottom four tomorrow: Railway are away to Corinthian, Hermes are at home to Glenanne and Loreto visit a Bray side that have revived hopes of avoiding relegation with four points from their last two games.
Hermes will be back in action on Sunday when they play Pembroke Wanderers in the last four of the Leinster Senior Cup, with Old Alexandra and Corinthian meeting in the other semi-final.
In Munster, meanwhile, fourth-placed Harlequins, who have two games in hand on the top three, have the chance to close the gap on one of their rivals, Catholic Institute, when they meet at Rosbrien on Sunday.
Up north, Armagh lead the Ulster Premier League, but Pegasus, remarkably enough, have seven games in hand, having been able to play only five league fixtures this season. Weather permitting, they will meet second-placed Ards tomorrow.
The Ireland squad travel to England on Sunday ahead of three challenge matches against Britain at Bisham Abbey on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Injury has ruled Lauren Barr, Alex Speers and Cliodhna Sargent out of the trip.
IRELAND SQUAD: R Mulligan, E Stewart (both Armagh), B Cleland (Ballymoney), M Goode (Bray), E Cregan (Catholic Institute), S McCay (Dragons), E Clarke (Leicester), L Colvin, N Daly, L Healy, N Small, N Symmons (all Loreto), R Flinn (Old Alexandra), M Harvey (Pegasus), E Smyth (Railway Union), A O’Flynn, J O’Halloran (both UCC), L Jacob (UCD).
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Tomorrow – Leinster League, Division One: Trinity v Old Alexandra, Santry, 11.0; Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Serpentine Ave, 12.30; Hermes v Glenanne, St Andrew’s, 1.15; Bray v Loreto, Loreto Bray, 1.30; Corinthian v Railway Union, Whitechurch, 3.30.
Sunday – Leinster Senior Cup, semi-finals: Old Alexandra v Corinthian, Milltown, 2.0; Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, St Andrew’s, 4.30. Munster League, Division One: Catholic Institute v Cork Harlequins, Rosbrien, 2.30; Church of Ireland v Univ of Limerick, Garryduff, 3.0.
