Hermes pip Armagh on penalty strokes

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:Catholic Institute and Pegasus will have to try, for the third time, to get their Irish Senior Cup tie played after it was postponed again, this time before the Belfast side made the journey to Limerick as they did last month. To avoid a repeat of that trip for the squad, the IHA called the game off in advance because of the likelihood of a frozen pitch.

The date for the rescheduled tie has yet to be fixed – it will either be next weekend or in mid January – but there were no such weather-related worries for Saturday’s other cup ties, all of them going ahead.

Hermes needed penalty strokes to advance after a 1-1 draw away to Armagh, while Ballymoney shaded their tie at Corinthian, Angie Huey and Kate Caithness’s goals giving them a 2-1 win. Ards had a more comfortable afternoon, Caroline Adams and Naomi Elliott (two) sealing a 3-0 victory over Ulster Elks.

UCD, meanwhile, went two points clear at the top of the Leinster first division with yet another win over Old Alexandra, their fourth in three competitions in the past month, 3-0 the result this time. Loreto moved up to second, two points behind the students, with a 7-0 defeat of Trinity, while Sharon Carey’s goal against Glenanne gave Pembroke Wanderers the points.