Railway Union can retain title with win

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:AFTER BEATING UCD 2-0 in their penultimate Leinster Division One fixture on Wednesday night, Railway Union can retain their title tomorrow if they wrap up their league campaign with another win.

Their opponents, though, are Hermes who have title ambitions of their own and who are the only side to have beaten Railway in the league this season.

The defending champions are now three points clear at the top of the table but Hermes have a game in hand, against bottom club Bray the following weekend. Railway’s goal difference is, though, superior by eight, so if tomorrow’s game was to end in a draw Hermes would need to beat Bray by nine.

There’s still some way to go before the contest for the Munster title is settled, with UCC, Catholic Institute, Cork Harlequins and Church of Ireland all still in contention. But this weekend’s fixtures should have a major bearing on the outcome. UCC and Harlequins play each other twice, while Institute host C of I at Rosbrien on Sunday.

Old Alexandra’s second team, meanwhile, will attempt to add the ESB Irish Junior Cup to the Leinster Division Two title they have already secured when they meet Randalstown II in tomorrow’s final at Belfield.

On the international front, Ireland’s schedule at the World Cup Qualifier in Chile has been lightened following the announcement by the International Hockey Federation that there would be no replacement for Ukraine in the tournament. Ukraine initially accepted an invitation to replace Trinidad and Tobago in the line-up, but then they too withdrew. Ireland, then, will compete with Australia, Scotland, Malaysia, and Chile in the event, which starts on April 24th.

FIXTURES

IRISH JUNIOR CUP final(at Belfield) – Tomorrow: Old Alexandra II v Randalstown II, 1.30.

LEINSTER LEAGUE– Division One – Tomorrow: UCD v Old Alexandra, Belfield, 11.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Loreto, Serpentine Avenue, 11.30; Hermes v Railway Union, St Andrew's, 2.0.

MUNSTER LEAGUE– Division One – Tomorrow: Cork Harlequins v UCC, Farmers Cross, 12.0. Sunday: UCC v Harlequins, The Mardyke, 12.0; Catholic Institute v Church of Ireland, Rosbrien, 12.30.