Loreto ready for a late title charge

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THERE HAVE been more than a few exciting finishes to Leinster Division One title races in recent seasons, but the conclusion to the current campaign might prove hard to beat. Just two points separates the top three teams, all of whom play each other before the season's end.

Hermes, with three games left, lead Railway Union by a point, but Loreto, another point back, have two games in hand on both sides.

When they beat Hermes 3-2 in the Irish Hockey League (IHL) last weekend the margin of victory wasn’t enough to put Loreto through to the semi-finals of the competition, but a win of any kind when the teams meet again at Belfield tomorrow would be a huge boost to their title ambitions.

Defending champions Railway, who moved up to second when they beat Old Alexandra 3-1 earlier in the week, will expect to collect three more points from their home game against bottom club Corinthian. After that they have two games left: Hermes and Loreto.

The battle for fourth, which earns qualification for the IHL, is just as fierce, with UCD and Alexandra tied on points and games played. The students, who have qualified for the semi-finals of this year’s IHL, are at home to Pembroke Wanderers tomorrow, while Alexandra are away to Glenanne.

LEINSTER LEAGUE, Division One – Tomorrow: UCD v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 11.15; Glenanne v Old Alexandra, Glenanne Park, 1.30; Railway Union v Corinthian, Park Avenue, 2.45; Bray v Trinity, Loreto Bray, 4.30; Hermes v Loreto, Belfield, 6.0.