Hermes off to stunning start

Saturday's match against Old Alexandra might only have been their first league fixture of the season but already the signs are ominous for those Leinster teams with hopes of dethroning champions Hermes in the new campaign. A 5-1 victory over the club that finished third last season, on a day that also saw Loreto draw with UCD, makes it difficult to envisage anyone but Hermes topping the table come April.

New Zealand international Rachel Petrie opened the scoring at Belfield after just three minutes from a penalty corner. Mary Logue doubled the lead in the eighth minute when she forced home the rebound from a Daphne Sixsmith shot. It was 3-0 after 27 minutes when neat work in the circle by Jenny Burke gave her room to drill the ball home but Alexandra dug deep and were rewarded before half-time when Trish Conway scored from their first corner.

Conway in midfield and Leanne Ryan up front were at the centre of Alexandra's attempted fightback, but Sixsmith, Linda Caulfield and Johanna Hyland had a firm grip overall for Hermes, with Logue and Burke sharp and threatening up front. Substitute Rosie Walsh added to the tally in the 43rd minute before a vintage Logue goal, converted after a mazy run up the left, made it 5-1 four minutes later.

UCD maintained their fine start to the season by holding Loreto to a 1-1 at Beaufort. Sarah Scott gave Loreto the lead but Hilda Maguire levelled before half-time.