Under-strength Hermes make early exit

HOCKEY: Having contested three of the last four Sharwood's Irish Senior Cup finals, losing to Loreto in last season's decider, Hermes made an early exit from this year's competition on Saturday, falling victim to the surprise result of the third round when they suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat by Belfast Harlequins at Deramore.

Much as they had feared, the Leinster champions simply didn't have enough in reserve in the absence of three of their four internationals - Tara Browne, Linda Caulfield and Jenny Burke - as well as Caitriona Carey, Jill Hodgins and Jenny Osborne, who broke her nose in training last week. Daphne Sixsmith, their fourth Irish player, was a late call-up to the squad on Friday, but even her presence failed to blunt a superb display by the team lying fifth in the Ulster League.

Harlequins, coached by Simon Bell (who has been appointed assistant to Ulster senior coach Graham Quincey), converted all three of their short corners in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead after 10 minutes, and were four up by the time Mary Logue scored a late consolation goal for Hermes.

In yesterday's draw for the quarter-finals the Belfast side were given a home tie against Pembroke Wanderers who sprang to life in the second half of their third-round game against Portadown at Serpentine Avenue to run out 3-0 winners. Viv Doran broke the deadlock two minutes after the break before Sarah Clarke fired home a short corner in the 55th minute, with Orla Bell sealing the win three minutes from time.

Old Alexandra and Pegasus will meet at Milltown in the last eight in what will be a repeat of the 1998 final, which Pegasus won 5-0. A superb solo effort from Anya Bowers, after just 90 seconds, gave Alexandra the ideal start against Randalstown on Saturday, with Trish Conway converting a second half stroke to give the Leinster team a 2-0 win.

Pegasus, still without Arlene Boyles, Claire McMahon and Karen Humphreys, avenged their 2001 final defeat by Ballymoney with a 2-0 victory - a goal in each half from Heather Mullan and Susie Martin proved enough for the All-Ireland champions.

A Nikki Symmons hat-trick was the highlight of cup holders Loreto's 10-1 trouncing of UCC at Beaufort, with Orla Ryan and Cathy McKean scoring two apiece. Julie O'Sullivan levelled for the students after Ryan had given Loreto a sixth-minute lead but the Dublin team went on to score five in each half.

Next up for the holders is the short trip to Belfield where they will play UCD, 4-2 winners, after extra time, over Corinthian. There were no goals in the first 60 minutes of the all-Leinster tie but twice Corinthian equalised in the last 10 minutes of normal time before UCD broke their resistance in extra time with two more goals.

A goal from Karen O'Brien proved enough for Cork Harlequins, who had Irish captain Rachael Kohler back in action, to beat Ards at Farmers' Cross. The 2000 cup winners, Munster's only remaining representatives in the competition, must travel north to play Knock in the quarter-finals. A hat-trick from Julie Doak helped Knock on their way to a 4-1 win over Waterford, leaving the team second from bottom of the Ulster League three wins away from bridging a 75-year gap - they last won the cup in 1928.