If the Leinster Division One title race was a close affair before Saturday’s games, it’s tighter still after Railway Union and Old Alexandra both suffered their first defeats of the campaign, at the hands of Hermes and UCD, respectively.

Four teams are now tied on 17 points – Loreto, who didn’t play at the weekend, Railway, UCD and Alexandra – with Hermes just a point behind the leading pack. There is then an eight point gap to North Kildare in sixth.

Railway, who lost out on the title to UCD on “games won” last season, had gone through that entire campaign unbeaten, but Hermes got the better of them on Saturday. The home side fought back from going 2-0 down to level before the break, but Caitriona McGilp got a late winner for Hermes. UCD, meanwhile, made it five wins in a row against the previously unbeaten Alexandra, Niamh Atcheler and Anna O’Flanagan putting the students 2-0 up at Milltown before Sofie McLeod got a late consolation goal for the home side.

Pembroke picked up their first win of the season with a 2-0 win at Glenanne.

Leinster League – Division One:Corinthian 2 (S Smith, A Connery), North Kildare 2 (K Hurley, L Hassett); Old Alexandra 1 (S McLeod), UCD 2 (N Atchleler, A O'Flanagan); Glenanne 0, Pembroke 2 (K O'Byrne, S Marshall); Railway Union 2 (S Dooley, Z Delany), Hermes 3 (A O'Flynn, L Pinder, C McGilp).