After a hectic season that saw all four clubs combine their league campaigns with lengthy national and/or provincial cup runs, the coaches of Railway Union, UCD, Loreto and Ards will ask their players for one more big effort this weekend with the ultimate prize up for grabs, the Irish Hockey League.

Loreto meet Ards and Railway, the reigning champions, play UCD in tomorrow’s semi-finals at Grange Road, the winners of those contests going through to Sunday’s final at the same venue (1.30).

While Ards might be the surprise package of the quartet, reaching the semi-finals for the first time, they also had an impressive run in the Irish Senior Cup, reaching the last four where they lost 5-1 to Railway, and beat UCD in their opening IHL pool game.

Loreto, then, will be wary of Ulster’s sole remaining representatives, but having come through a hugely difficult pool unbeaten, scoring 19 goals in five games, they will fancy their chances of reaching the final for the second year running.

Railway prevailed in that game by a single goal, scored by Julia O'Halloran, but to give themselves a chance of retaining their crown they must first get past Leinster champions UCD tomorrow.

Omens are good
The omens are good, though, for Mick McKinnon's side, having beaten the students 3-2 in the Irish Senior Cup final in March, inflicting their only league defeat in October, and drawing 4-4 with them in February, having trailed 4-0.

Based on that form, then, the odds might favour a repeat of last year's final, but UCD won't be short of confidence. After losing to Ards in their first pool game they came back impressively, scoring 18 goals and conceding just three in their wins over Old Alexandra, Cork Harlequins, Lurgan and Ballymoney. And in Anna O'Flanagan they have the competition's top scorer to date.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday : Irish Hockey League, semi-finals (at Grange Road) : Loreto v Ards, 10.30; Railway Union v UCD, 12.30. Sunday: IHL Final, 1.30.