Hermes extend perfect start to Hockey League campaign with 8-1 win

With Ulster Elks and Railway Union held to draws in their EY Hockey League games on Saturday, Hermes are now the only side in the competition with a 100 per cent winning record. Their latest triumph was an 8-1 defeat of Connacht champions Greenfields, with Anna O’Flanagan scoring a hat-trick and Chloe Watkins and Naomi Carroll two apiece.

Railway needed an equaliser from Cecelia Joyce four minutes from time to avoid losing away to Ards, for whom Amy Benson had scored in the first quarter, while Elks, who took an early lead through Anna Kozniuk, also ending up drawing 1-1, with UCD at Belfield.

Pegasus continue to have a hard time trying to defend their All-Ireland crown in the newly formatted competition. After losing 4-2 away to Cork Harlequins, they have just one point from four games.

Suzanne Beaney had given the Belfast side an early lead, but two goals in three second-quarter minutes from Olivia Roycroft and Miriam Crowley put the hosts on top.

Alex Speers got Pegasus back in to the game, but Harlequins sealed victory in the final quarter with goals from Roycroft and Rachel Hobbs.

Pembroke Wanderers moved up to fourth in the table with a 3-2 win at UCC.

Loreto and Muckross each made it five wins out of five in the Leinster first division on Saturday, Loreto beating Genesis 4-1 and Muckross winning 3-0 against Glenanne.