A double feast at the head of the tables

Women's HockeyAs the fixture list would have it, Leinster and Ulster's top two teams meet tomorrow in their respective leagues - Loreto v Hermes and Pegasus v Ballymoney - and while the results, at only the halfway stage of the season, are unlikely to be decisive, they should be significant in the two title races.

Pegasus lead the Ulster League table by five points, but it's a deceptive advantage over second-placed Ballymoney who have three games in hand.

Ballymoney beat Pegasus 2-0 at home in September and the possibility of losing their Irish panellists - Lynsey McVicker, Angela Platt, Nicky McCaughern and Bridget McKeever - for a spell early in the New Year means they could do with beating the champions again tomorrow.

Pegasus have just two on the Irish panel, Katharine Maybin and Kirsty McCollum, but will be without Pamela Magill for six weeks in the New Year when she travels to Australia.

The contest in Leinster is a tighter affair with only goal difference separating Loreto and Hermes, both on 22 points from eight games. The teams meet at Beaufort, where they drew 0-0 last season, while third-placed Old Alexandra, six points behind with a game in hand, will attempt to keep in touch by beating Corinthian at Whitechurch.

A depleted Alexandra scraped to a 1-0 win over Clontarf on Wednesday, courtesy of a Trish Conway goal, a result that lifted them above Railway Union who they play on Monday night. Railway must first take on UCD at Belfield tomorrow. UCD will be without Catherine Murray, who broke a bone in her hand in the senior interprovincial tournament, but are boosted by the return of Christine Quinlan.

Leinster League: Division One - UCD v Railway Union, Belfield, 11.15; Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 1.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Genesis, Ballsbridge, 1.30; Corinthian v Old Alexandra, Whitechurch, 2.30; Three Rock v Clontarf, Grange Road, 4.30. Division Two - Tomorrow: Skerries v Pembroke Wanderers II, Dardistown, 10.0. Sunday: Loreto III v Hermes II, Beaufort, 2.30. Munster League: Division One - Sunday: Harlequins v Bandon, Farmers Cross, 4.0. Irish Junior Cup: Second round: Loreto II v Glenanne, Beaufort, 2.15; Trinity v Knock II, Santry, 1.0; Church of Ireland II v Belfast Harlequins II, Garryduff, 12.0.