Irish Senior Cup holders Hermes won through to the quarterfinals of the competition after surviving a gallant Ards' challenge in Saturday's second-round replay but their hopes of retaining their Leinster Senior A title were not helped by the wintry chill in Dublin yesterday which caused the postponement of their crucial league fixture against Old Alexandra.
A frozen pitch at Beaufort, where the match had been switched from Belfield, means the game must now be rescheduled for January when Hermes will be unable to select their five international players - unless their appeal for a dispensation from the rule is granted under the circumstances.
That's a battle for another day, but for now the club is just relieved to have clinched their place in the last eight of the Irish Cup after a nerve-wracking match against Ards which went to extra time. Jenny Burke returned from injury to give Hermes the lead in the first half but Joanne Menown, making a temporary return from retirement, equalised 10 minutes from time before Burke struck again decisively. Hermes next face Victorians, who beat NUIG 4-0 in their replay, with three of the goals coming in the last 15 minutes. Meanwhile the reigning Ulster and Munster league champions, Pegasus and Harlequins, were assured on Saturday of their places in the end-of-season title playoffs - which may not even be necessary if they both finish top in the second half of their leagues' seasons. Portadown beat Omagh 8-0, with Irish forward Jill Orbinson scoring four, falling five goals short of the margin of victory they needed to pip Pegasus to the pre-Christmas title on goal difference. In Munster UCC lost at home to Church of Ireland, a match they had to win to make tomorrow night's meeting with Harlequins the title decider.
Back in Leinster, Loreto produced a wonderful second-half display against Trinity, scoring five goals without reply after the teams had been 1-1 at half time, to go second behind Hermes in the table. "From one to 13 they were magnificent," said Loreto coach Tom O'Donoghue of his 11 starters and two substitutes after the game, in which Sarah Scott scored a hat-trick. Pembroke Wanderers moved up to fourth in the table after defeating Genesis 2-1 at Milltown.
