Hermes inched ever closer to winning the Leinster League Senior A title on Saturday when they beat Railway Union 3-0 at Park Avenue. Just one more point from their two remaining fixtures, against Old Alexandra and Muckross, and the club will secure their first league success since 1973.
Goals from Aisling Keane (two) and former Railway player Carol Devine brought the team's scoring tally to a remarkable 50 goals this season, in what was their 14th victory in 16 league matches.
Last season, by their own admission, there was an over reliance on Jenny Burke for goals and while the Irish international has been just as prolific in the current campaign (she is top scorer in Senior A with 14 goals), the rest of the team has shared 36 goals between them. Hermes were due to play Old Alexandra next Saturday, but that match may be rescheduled as they play their Leinster Senior Cup semi-final, against Loreto, on Sunday. The club very nearly had the title won yesterday when Muckross seemed destined to drop a point, which would have ended their slim league hopes, when they were level at 1-1 against Clontarf with just seconds to go in their match at Rathdown. However, Clontarf were denied their first point of the season when Ciara McGrath scored from a short corner to keep the pressure on Hermes. If Muckross are to retain their title, they need Hermes to lose to Old Alexandra and must then beat them at Belfield on Saturday week to finish level on points - the teams would then play off for the league.
Before Saturday, Old Alexandra had a tiny mathematical chance of catching the leaders, but their 3-1 home defeat by Trinity ended their hopes.
Meanwhile, Clontarf's only hope of retaining their Senior A place rests on Hermes II or Loreto II, third and fourth respectively, winning Senior B (neither team can be promoted). In Ulster, Pegasus won a thrilling match, 3-2, against leaders Ards in Belfast and are now firm favourites to win the league. Ards stay top on 22 points, but Pegasus, on 18, have five games in hand. Second-placed Collegians have 20 points but have played four more games than Pegasus.
