UCD remain top after ending Railway Union’s unbeaten run

Cork Harlequins keep pressure on the student side following easy win over Pembroke

Lena Tice’s third-quarter penalty ensured a UCD victory over  Railway Union. Photograph: Inpho
Lena Tice’s third-quarter penalty ensured a UCD victory over Railway Union. Photograph: Inpho

There's no change at the top of the Hockey League with UCD, Cork Harlequins and Pegasus all picking up wins over the weekend, Loreto the only one of the seven teams below the leading contenders to also register a victory.

UCD ended Railway Union's unbeaten run at Park Avenue on Sunday but needed a third-quarter penalty stroke, converted by Lena Tice, to seal the points.

Both sides had their chances in a lively encounter, with Railway goalkeeper Grace O’Flanagan pulling off a string of saves against the defending champions.

Unbeaten

Cork Harlequins, now the league's only unbeaten side, had a more comfortable time of it on Saturday when first half goals from Rebecca Barry, Roisin Upton and Naomi Carroll gave them the points against Pembroke Wanderers, that win keeping them in second place, a point behind UCD.

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Pegasus, meanwhile, stay third after a 3-0 win away to bottom club Monkstown but move three points clear of Ards who lost 1-0 at home to Loreto, Jessica McGirr deflecting home a short corner in the second quarter.

And Trinity picked up a valuable point away to Belfast Harlequins, one that lifts them above Pembroke and out of the bottom two. Ailish Long gave the students the lead before Jenna Watt levelled for the Ulster side.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times