Railway target national outdoor title

WOMEN'S HOCKEY ROUND-UP:A WEEK after enduring the agony of losing the Irish Senior Cup final on penalty strokes, Railway Union are back in action, this time in the Irish Hockey League (IHL). The Leinster champions play Hermes in tomorrow's semi-finals at Grange Road, while Pegasus and Cork Harlequins are paired in the second semi-final. The winners meet in Sunday's decider.

Railway and Hermes have already met four times this season, winning two games apiece, with Railway holding off Hermes’ challenge to claim their second successive league title.

This, though, is the prize that coach Mike McKinnon most wants for his young side, one that would be the club’s first senior national outdoor title.

The IHL semi-finals are new territory for Railway, the only team in this year’s last four not to feature in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition a year ago.

Loreto were the winners on that occasion, beating Hermes on strokes in the final.

Pegasus go in to their game having won their 13th Ulster title in a row, finishing three points clear of Armagh, but by their standards it was a bit of a struggle, drawing two of their last three games.

Harlequins, too, had their dominance challenged in Munster this season. UCC took them to a title play-off, but the champions prevailed to win their 15th successive title.

Meanwhile, Old Alexandra, Catholic Institute, Greenfields and Ballymoney meet in a round-robin tournament over the weekend, with the top two qualifying for next season’s IHL. Greenfields clinched the Connacht title on Tuesday night in a play-off against Galway, when Alma Whelan and Dora Gorman got their goals in a 2-1 victory.

IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE(at Grange Road)

Tomorrow - Semi-finals: Railway Union v Hermes, 10.30; Pegasus v Cork Harlequins, 12.30. Sunday – Final: 1.30.

IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE(at Grange Road)

Qualification play-offs – Today: Old Alexandra v Catholic Institute, 7.30; Ballymoney v Greenfields, 7.30. Tomorrow: Greenfields v Old Alexandra, 3.15; Catholic Institute v Ballymoney, 5.0. Sunday: Greenfields v Catholic Institute, 11.30; Ballymoney v Old Alexandra, 3.30.