WOMEN'S HOCKEY: After experiencing defeat for the first time this season at the hands of Ballymoney in last Saturday's Irish Senior Cup quarter-final, before dropping two points to Old Alexandra in the league the following day, Loreto will attempt to get back to winning ways this weekend when they play Corinthian in the league and Railway Union in the semi-finals of the Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup.
While their draw against Alexandra was only the second league game all season that they failed to win (they also drew with Alexandra back in October) Loreto still have a relatively comfortable lead over second-placed Hermes, who trail by seven points with a game in hand.
Their Irish Cup exit was a huge disappointment for Loreto but their primary target this season has always been success in the All-Ireland Club finals, a tournament in which they have never prospered. Indeed, having won the Irish Senior Cup, Leinster League and Cup in recent seasons the All-Ireland title is the only one to elude them. That, tournament, though is some way off yet, for now Siobhan Keogh's team will concentrate on retaining the two trophies they won last season, the Leinster League and Cup. On Sunday they will attempt to reach their fourth successive Leinster Cup final when they take on Railway at Grange Road, with the winners facing Hermes on St Patrick's Day.
If they can become the first Leinster team to beat Loreto this season Railway will complete a perfect eight-day spell, one that began with them reaching the semi-finals of the Irish Cup by defeating Alexandra. And it is Alexandra who, realistically, are the only club who can deny Railway a top three finish in the league and place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Railway, who play Clontarf tomorrow, have a two-point cushion over fourth-placed Alexandra and are three points short of Hermes' current tally - Alexandra play Hermes at Milltown tomorrow, so, one way or another, the top four standings will have a different look about it come tomorrow afternoon. Hermes play their 'game in hand' on Sunday when they meet Corinthian in Booterstown. Immediately after their firsts' game against Hermes Alexandra's seconds play Cork Harlequins II at Milltown in the semi-finals of the Odlums Irish Junior Cup, with holders Pegasus II taking on Loreto II at Beaufort.
Yesterday's postponed Leinster Schools' Senior Cup final, between High School and Alexandra College, has been rescheduled for Tuesday next (3.30 at Grange Road).
IRISH JUNIOR CUP, tomorrow, semi-finals: Loreto II v Pegasus II, Beaufort, 2.15; Old Alexandra II v Cork Harlequins II, Milltown, 2.30. LEINSTER JACQUI POTTER CUP, Sunday, semi-final: Railway Union v Loreto, Grange Road, 2.0. LEINSTER LEAGUE, Division One, tomorrow: Old Alexandra v Hermes, Milltown, 12.15; Clontarf v Railway Union, Dardistown, 12.30; UCD v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 12.45; Loreto v Corinthian, Beaufort, 12.45; Three Rock v Genesis, Grange Road, 1.0. Sunday: Hermes v Corinthian, Booterstown, 1.0. Division Two: Glenanne v Pembroke Wanderers II, Tallaght, 12.00; Hermes II v Trinity, Booterstown, 4.30. ULSTER LEAGUE, Section One: Ballymena v Ards, Ballymena, 2.30; Ballymoney v Belfast Harlequins, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Coleraine v Victorians, UUC, 2.30; Omagh v Randalstown, Omagh Leisure Centre, 2.30; Pegasus v Knock, Queens, 2.30.
