Leinster and Munster champions Loreto and Harlequins got their respective seasons under way with emphatic victories on Saturday, sharing 13 goals between them and conceding none, but All-Ireland title holders Pegasus suffered their first league defeat in two years at the hands of Belfast Harlequins.
Karen Mitchell put her side, formerly known as Collegians, 20 up midway through the second half and completed her hat-trick soon after Claire McGookin had pulled one back for Pegasus. Susie Martin narrowed the lead again eight minutes from time but Harlequins held on for a famous victory. Victorians had been the last team to beat Pegasus in the league, in September 1998.
Nikki Symmons helped herself to three goals in Loreto's 7-0 victory over Glenanne, while the rest of last season's top four, Hermes, Old Alexandra and Pembroke Wanderers, also had comfortable wins. In Munster Jill Hodgins scored twice on her debut for Harlequins in their 6-0 win over Bandon.
Leinster League - Senior A: Glenanne 0, Loreto 7 (N Symmons 3, N Lyons, A Pomeroy, R Brophy, C O'Kelly); Railway Union 1 (K Clarke), Hermes 4 (A Keane 2, J Osborne, C Carey); Old Alexandra 4 (T Conway, C Metchette, H Agar, G O'Shea), Genesis 0; Muckross 0, Pembroke Wanderers 4 (C Henderson 2, J Morris, A O'Donoghue).
Munster Senior League - Division One: Bandon 0, Harlequins 6 (K O'Brien 2, J Hodgins 2, E Dillon, R Kohler); Lansdowne 2 (E Fitzgibbon, K Whelan), Church of Ireland 1 (C Kennefick).
Ulster Senior League - Section One: Pegasus 2 (C McGookin, S Martin), Belfast Harlequins 3 (K Mitchell 3, one pen); Knock 1, Randalstown 2; Ballymoney 1, Portadown 2; North Down 3, UUJ 1; Coleraine 1, Ards 1.
