Railway battle back to grab share of the spoils

HOCKEY:Railway Union produced an extraordinary comeback from 4-0 down early in the second half to earn a 4-4 draw in their top-of-the-table clash with UCD at Belfield on Saturday.

UCD had been cruising towards their 11th successive league victory but the draw leaves the teams tied on 33 points with just four games to go – the defending champions with a four-goal advantage.

Alex Speers began the comeback soon after her side went 4-0 down, the Irish captain then narrowing the deficit to a single goal after Jean McDonnell got Railway’s second. And, late on, Kate Lloyd completed the recovery.

Loreto’s 4-1 win away to Pembroke Wanderers reduced the top two’s lead to three points – and Loreto still have to play Railway. Another point back, Hermes moved above Old Alexandra by beating them 2-1 on Saturday.

In Munster, champions Catholic Institute closed Cork Harlequins’ lead at the top to five points, with two games in hand, by crushing University of Limerick 12-0, Éimear Cregan scoring six goals.

Harlequins drew 2-2 with Church of Ireland on Saturday. UCC’s Irish Senior Cup run ended as goals from Janice Vaughan and Becky Weir gave Ards a 2-0 win in their rescheduled quarter-final in Cork.