IN the final Leinster Senior League fixture of the season at Belfield tonight (8.0) the players of Loreto will attempt to bring the club's 12-year title drought to an end by beating defending champions Muckross.

Loreto are two points behind Muckross going in to tonight's decider, which means nothing less than a victory will do if they are to snatch the title - a draw will be sufficient for the champions.

Last September, Muckross captain Teresa Hurley predicted that her team would face their biggest challenge for years in the league and, seven months on, she confirms that is precisely what they got.

"Usually we'd have the league wrapped up at this stage but it's good that it's been a lot closer this season. We certainly had a lot more challenging matches than we had in previous years and I think that's been good for us for other teams and good for hockey in general," says Hurley.

Loreto captain Linda Jenkinson also believes it has been the best season for years for Leinster hockey with the honours shared, so far, between Hermes (Irish Senior Cup winners) and Muckross (Leinster Senior Cup winners). Now she hopes Loreto can add a third name to the season's roll of honour.

"I think it would mean something different to each person on the Loreto team if we could win it. To me it's the end of three years' captaincy and winning the league would top it off beautiful. It would mean so much, too, to Mary Barnwell because it's possibly her final year and for the younger ones it would be their first taste of success. We're all set, raring to go and we know three points will do the job."