Hermes look to return to winning ways

Part two of the Computershare Leinster League season gets under way tomorrow with the race for the Senior A title wide open following Loreto's victory over Hermes before Christmas. Third-placed Old Alexandra, too, are in with a shout but the pressure is now on all three contenders to avoid any slip-ups, starting this weekend.

The top two should pick up maximum points from their home games against teams from the bottom three (Hermes v Railway Union and Loreto v Glenanne) while Old Alexandra will hope for a repeat of their comfortable win over Genesis who they beat 4-0 in the first half of the season. Alexandra's Trish Conway, meanwhile, has been named Player of December.

The day's most competitive game is likely to be the Colours' match between Trinity and UCD in Santry. UCD are proving to be one of the teams of the season, having climbed to fourth place with four wins from their nine games to date. Trinity, though, are just two points behind and while a top three finish, one that would secure a place in the All-Ireland League at the end of the season, might prove beyond both teams victory tomorrow would, at least, keep their hopes alive.

In Ulster normal service was resumed on Wednesday night when Pegasus replaced Portadown at the top of Section One with a 2-0 win over Knock, in what was Graham Quincey's first game in charge of the defending champions - they are now a point clear with a game in hand. The two teams meet tomorrow in Portadown in a game the hosts must win if they are to have any chance of dethroning the Belfast club this season.

Elsewhere Ballymoney play Randalstown in what will be a dress rehearsal for the following week's Irish Senior Cup quarter-final tie.