Pegasus given their chance to avenge last year's final defeat

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: The draw for the third round of the Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup has paired Ballymoney and Pegasus in what will…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: The draw for the third round of the Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup has paired Ballymoney and Pegasus in what will be a repeat of the 2001 final in which Ballymoney upset the favourites, beating them on strokes. Holders Loreto have been drawn at home to UCC, with last season's beaten finalists, Hermes, given a tricky away tie to Belfast Harlequins.

In all there are three Ulster versus Leinster ties, with Old Alexandra and Pembroke Wanderers at home to Randalstown and Portadown, respectively, while Corinthian and UCD meet in the only all-Leinster pairing of the round.

Munster champions Harlequins, cup winners in 2000, have a home tie against Ards, with the round's outsiders, Knock and Waterford, meeting at Queen's University. The ties will be played on January 18th when Irish internationals will be available to their clubs again.

Pegasus, meanwhile, remain on course to retain the Ulster Shield after reaching the final on Saturday with a 1-0 semi-final win over Portadown - Heather Mullan got the holders' goal. An extra-time winner from Sarah Wilkinson gave Randalstown a 2-1 victory over Belfast Harlequins in the day's second semi-final.

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IRISH SENIOR CUP - Third round draw: Old Alexandra v Randalstown, Knock v Waterford, Cork Harlequins v Ards, Ballymoney v Pegasus, Loreto v UCC, Belfast Harlequins v Hermes, Pembroke Wanderers v Portadown, Corinthian v UCD.

Ties to be played January 18th.

ULSTER SHIELD - Semi-finals: Portadown 0 Pegasus 1 (H Mullan)

Randalstown 2 (S Parkhill, S Wilkinson) Belfast Harlequins 1 (K Mitchell). After extra time.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times