Leinster race to go to the end

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: While Pegasus and Cork Harlequins edge ever closer to retaining the Ulster and Munster league titles they have…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:While Pegasus and Cork Harlequins edge ever closer to retaining the Ulster and Munster league titles they have held, respectively, for a seemingly interminable period of time, the Leinster first division, once again, is proving to be by far the most competitive of the Irish leagues.

The top four - Loreto, Hermes, Old Alexandra and Pembroke Wanderers - all won again on Saturday, although Loreto were frustrated for 65 minutes by second-from-bottom Trinity before Sarah Scott finally got the goal that maintained their lead at the top of the table.

Hermes and Alexandra, who also won their Jacqui Potter Cup quarter-final ties yesterday, had more comfortable afternoons on Saturday; Molly Powers and Aoife Harte shared four goals in Hermes' 5-0 defeat of Three Rock, and Jeamie Deacon was again on the scoresheet in Alexandra's 3-0 win over Corinthian.

There'll be no white flags waved at Garryduff just yet, but Church of Ireland's 3-0 defeat by Cork Harlequins last Thursday night, which put the champions a point clear with a game in hand, realistically leaves them playing for second place. They went some way towards securing that runners-up spot, and a place in the play-offs, by beating third-placed Catholic Institute 5-0 at Garryduff on Saturday.

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Meanwhile, in Ulster, any hopes Randalstown might have had of loosening the grip Pegasus have had on the title all but ended on Saturday when they could only draw (3-3) with Ballymoney.

David Agnew, the Randalstown coach, conceded the title to Pegasus after the game, instead targeting the runners-up spot for which Ards look like being their main rivals.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times