Senior A sides a class apart

Any doubts that there is a gulf in class between the Leinster Senior A and B divisions were allayed in convincing style on Saturday afternoon. Not only did all six Senior A sides beat their B division opponents, in the second round of the Coca Cola Leinster Senior Cup, they scored 21 goals, between them, without reply.

Seven Old Alexandra players got their names on the scoresheet against Avoca, making them the day's top scorers, while Hermes beat Muckross II 5-0, with Jenny Burke scoring twice, taking her personal tally for the season in to double figures.

Two goals from Orla Bell helped the Muckross first team dispatch of Pembroke Wanderers II in a 40 win, while Cathy McKean and Sarah Scott got the goals that gave Senior A leaders Loreto a 2-0 victory over UCD at Belfield.

Trinity rounded off a perfect week, during which they won their third successive Chilean Cup, by seeing off the challenge of their Senior B opponents, Loreto II (20) but Glenanne were made to work hard by Maids for their place in the third round and were indebted to Suzanne Moody, who scored the game's only goal.

Pembroke Wanderers won the day's only all-Senior A clash, with Anne Klatt, the forward who joined the club from Germany during the summer, scoring both their goals in a 2-0 win over Genesis.

Corinthians were the only Senior B side to win through to the third round, after they beat Aer Lingus 3-0 with goals from Sandra Irwin, Nicky Cinnamond and Nikki Jolley. Their reward is an away tie at Glenanne, on January 16th, while Trinity play Muckross, Pembroke Wanderers meet Old Alexandra and, in what is the tie of the round, Senior A leaders Loreto take on league champions Hermes.

In Munster, UCC, who lost on strokes to Trinity in Thursday's Chilean Cup final, put their disappointment behind them to beat Bandon 4-0, with E J Walsh and Orlaith Curtin sharing the goals. Top individual scorer of the day was Harlequins' Karen O'Brien who helped herself to five of the Munster champions' eight goals against Catholic Institute. And, needless to say, Pegasus won again, this time in the Ulster Shield - they beat North Down 5-0 to win through to the quarter-finals.