WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THE FINAL four minutes might have been nerve-wracking for Pegasus yesterday but, in the end, they left Beaufort with a crucial Irish Hockey League victory over Loreto, one that puts them level on points at the top of Pool A with Hermes.

Loreto’s only consolation is that, having trailed 3-0, goals from Cathy McKean and Ali Meeke secured them a bonus point, one that puts them on four with UCC, three behind the leaders.

Goals from Suzanne Beaney (two) and Vanessa Surgeneor put the Ulster champions firmly in control of the game in the second quarter but McKean pulled one back before half-time to give the hosts some hope.

By then they had lost Nicci Daly with a facial injury but they rallied, survived a Pegasus penalty stroke, which was put wide, and narrowed the lead to a single goal when Meeke scored in the 66th minute.

Pegasus, though, held on for the victory, leaving Loreto, winners of the competition two seasons ago, once again in danger of missing out on a place in the semi-finals.

Hermes, meanwhile, had a dramatic 2-1 victory away to Catholic Institute, their winner scored by Anna O’Flanagan from a short corner after the final hooter had sounded. It was heartbreaking for the Limerick club who had taken the lead through Rosie Pratt, Hermes equalising through an Audrey O’Flynn drag flick on 44 minutes.

UCC kept up their challenge with a 4-1 home win over Belfast Harlequins, Ali O’Regan scoring a hat-trick, but their Munster rivals Cork Harlequins have still to get off the mark in Pool B after losing 3-0 away to Ards yesterday.

Railway Union and Armagh top the pool on six points, followed by UCD on five, the students drawing with Railway on Saturday.

A Rachel Burke short-corner strike two minutes from time at Park Avenue secured the draw for UCD after Jean McDonnell had given the champions the lead early in the final quarter.

Another late goal helped Ballymoney scramble a 1-1 draw with Armagh.

IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE

Pool A – Saturday: UCC 4 (M Crowley, A O’Regan 3), Belfast Harlequins 1 (R Miller); Catholic Institute 1 (R Pratt), Hermes 2 (A O’Flynn, A O’Flanagan). Yesterday: Loreto 2 (C McKean, A Meeke), Pegasus 3 (S Beaney (2), V Surgeneor).

Pool B – Saturday: Ballymoney 1 (N Parke), Armagh 1 (C Russell); Railway Union 1 (J McDonnell), UCD 1 (R Burke). Yesterday: Ards 3 (B Weir, H McClurg, T McLeod), Cork Harlequins 0.

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