Another setback for UCD's hopes

Women's Hockey: UCD's hopes of a top-three finish in the Leinster League this season, one that would qualify them for the All-Ireland Club quarter-finals, have received a significant blow with the docking of three points for fielding an unregistered player in their first game of the season, a 3-0 defeat by Old Alexandra.

Already four points adrift of third-placed Alexandra, who have a game in hand on the students, the loss of the points is, coach Dean Maguire conceded, "a huge blow" to UCD's season.

"We lack consistency but we have a team that is capable of finishing in the top three, but this just makes that target even more difficult to reach."

According to Maguire a "miscommunication" within the club resulted in the player, who only came on for the last five minutes of the game, not being registered. While he accepts that "rules are rules" he felt the issue could have been handled more "professionally" by the branch.

"They have their policies so we accept the decision, but nobody contacted me or our captain before the decision was made at their meeting - surely they should have done that to find out from us what happened.

"I thought we were all trying to be more professional in how we run the league. I just found the way this issue was handled a little unprofessional."

With four of the top five clubs in the first division meeting this weekend, UCD, who have completed the first "half" of their season, will find themselves further behind the leaders.

Loreto, who play Alexandra at Beaufort, and Hermes, who host Pembroke Wanderers at Booterstown, will attempt to complete their pre-Christmas campaigns with their unbeaten records intact.

Alexandra can draw level with Loreto, on 20 points, if they repeat their victory of last season at Beaufort, while Pembroke need to bounce back from their defeat by UCD last weekend - they can take inspiration from their 1-1 draw away to Hermes in the last campaign.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Loreto v Old Alexandra, Beaufort, 12.0; Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Booterstown, 12.30.

ULSTER SHIELD - Second Round: Omagh v Pegasus, Omagh, 2.30; Belfast Harlequins v Coleraine, Deramore, 1.0; Owls v Parkview, Paisley Park, 2.30; Portadown v Ballyclare, Edenvilla Park, 2.30; Knock v Randalstown, Queens, 2.30; Ballymena v Enniskillen, Ballymena, 1.0.