Hermes survived a courageous comeback by Loreto at Grange Road yesterday to win their first Coca Cola Leinster Senior Cup since 1978, avenging last season's defeat in the final by the same opposition. The game featured a number of controversial umpiring decisions, the most dubious of all the denial of a clear Loreto goal that would have levelled the scores.

Earlier, Hermes felt hard done by when they conceded a penalty stroke, while Loreto believed Cathy McKean had a legitimate goal ruled out in the second half.

Having taken a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute, Hermes had a stroke awarded against them four minutes later, when Daphne Sixsmith was adjudged to have shoved Sarah Scott in the circle. It was probably a fair decision, but most weeks a penalty corner would have been the punishment.

Sarah O'Meara stepped up to fire high to Tara Browne's left. Three minutes later Loreto should have been level after the ball clearly crossed the line following a scramble in the circle. The goal was not given, although Loreto were awarded another stroke immediately after. This time Nikki Symmons was chosen to take it but Browne read her effort.

By then the benefit of the doubt had been given to Hermes when McKean claimed to have got the faintest of nicks to a ball hit from outside the circle, but the goal was not allowed.

Caitriona Carey and Mary Logue set up Deirdre McDermott for the opening goal two minutes into the second half, a lead that was doubled 10 minutes later by Sixsmith, who drilled home Petrie's switch from a corner.

Only then did Loreto spring in to life, with Caitriona O'Kelly and O'Meara the driving forces behind their comeback, and when O'Meara converted her stroke it signalled a frantic spell of Loreto pressure.

"We accept the decisions that were made but we strongly felt that the ball had crossed the line before our second stroke," said Loreto coach Fred McDarby. "Anyone at that end of the pitch clearly saw it. By then our tails were up, so if the goal had been given I believe we were the more likely team to go on and win the game."

HERMES: T Browne, J Hodgins, D Sixsmith, R Petrie, F Connery (capt), M Logue, L Caulfield, J Hyland, S McCarthy, C Carey, D McDermott. Subs: C Devine, F Manning, E J Walsh.

LORETO: L Healy, R Brophy, C Grealy, A Pomeroy, O Ryan, S Rand, C O'Kelly, S O'Meara (capt), N Lyons, N Symmons, C McKean. Subs: S Scott, E Walkin .

Umpires: C Hickey and C Kelly.