In-form Hermes lead the way

Women's Hockey: Hermes went top of the Leinster first division table yesterday after two wins over the weekend - the more significant yesterday's 1-0 defeat of champions Loreto - and if they maintain their momentum it's difficult to see them relinquishing that position before the season's end.

Early days, of course, and they've yet to play Pembroke Wanderers, Railway Union or Old Alexandra, but so far Hermes haven't put a foot wrong. Indeed, they've yet to even concede a goal in five games.

Kristen Farrell brought her tally to six goals in five matches with the winner 10 minutes from time yesterday, when Hermes caught Loreto, who had the majority of the possession, on the break. By then, though, Loreto goalkeeper Louisa Healy had had to save a penalty stroke.

The win, added to Saturday's 2-0 victory over Three Rock, lifted Hermes above second-placed Pembroke, who were the day's top scorers in their 5-0 win over Trinity. All five goals, though, came in the second half after the students, now without a point in three games, proved tricky for Pembroke to break down.

A week after Zanya Dahl got the two goals that helped Old Alexandra to a win over Loreto she added three more to her tally in Saturday's 4-0 win over Clontarf. Railway Union beat Corinthian 3-1 while Loreto beat UCD 3-1.

In Munster Church of Ireland and Cork Harlequins maintained their winning starts to the season, with C of I, now under coach Philip Oakley, beating UCC 5-0 with two goals apiece from Sinead Connery and Holly Moffett, while a double from Karen Bateman helped Cork Harlequins to a 6-2 win over Ashton.

And in Ulster there was a surprise inclusion in the Northern Ireland women's football squad which is preparing for a World Cup qualifying game against Romania later in the month - Irish hockey goalkeeper Angela Platt. A niece of Jim Platt, the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper, Platt, currently taking a break from club hockey with Ballymoney, will also hope to be in goal for another set of World Cup qualifiers next April, with the Irish hockey team in Rome.