Hermes celebrate despite a defeat

HOCKEY:THEY MIGHT have suffered only their second defeat of the league season on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to deprive Hermes of the Leinster Division One title, the club regaining the crown they relinquished to Railway Union two years ago.

UCD warmed up for their forthcoming Irish Senior Cup and Irish Hockey League semi-finals against Pegasus by beating the new champions 4-2. Having trailed 2-1 early in the second half, the students hit back with goals from Caitríona McGilp (her second of the game), Jess McMickan and Brenda Flannery to ensure Hermes’s campaign ended in defeat.

The result, though, meant Loreto had to beat Railway by nine clear goals at Beaufort. They were a third of the way towards their unlikely target when Ali Meeke made it 3-0 in the second half, but Cecilia Joyce and Alex Speers pulled two back for Railway to end any Loreto hopes of a goal-chase.

Loreto, then, finish level on points and “matches won” with Hermes, but thanks to goal difference Mary Logue’s coaching CV has another prestigious entry.

Railway’s seconds beat Lisnagarvey 4-3 on penalty strokes at Belfield to win the Irish Junior Cup. Railway led three times in the game through goals from Sinead Dooley, Kate Lloyd and Jenna Flynn, but Lisnagarvey levelled on each occasion.

Leinster League– Division One: UCD 4 (C McGilp 2, J McMickan, B Flannery), Hermes 2 (G Pinder, A O'Flanagan); Loreto 3 (N Keegan pen, R Keegan, A Meeke), Railway Union 2 (C Joyce, A Speers). Irish Junior Cup – Final: Lisnagarvey 3 (L Murray, J Flynn, S Coghlan), Railway Union 3 (S Dooley, K Lloyd, J Flynn).

Railway won 4-3 on pens after extra-time.