WOMEN'S HOCKEY:A WEEK after winning bronze at the EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy in Dublin, Railway Union will attempt to defend their Irish Hockey League title in Lisnagarvey this weekend. Railway meet Hermes, the team that succeeded them as Leinster champions this season, in tomorrow's semi-finals, with Pegasus and UCD paired in the other game. The final takes place on Sunday.
Railway beat Hermes on penalty strokes in last year’s semi-finals, a fate Hermes also suffered at the hands of Loreto in the inaugural final of the competition in 2009.
UCD will also be seeking a measure of revenge when they play Pegasus, the team that beat them in the semi-finals of the Irish Senior Cup a fortnight ago.
Having gone on to win the cup with a 3-1 defeat of Hermes, Pegasus are now seeking a prestigious double, their coach Michelle Rainey was short-listed yesterday by the Irish Hockey Association for the Coach of the Year award.
Mary Logue (Hermes), Mick McKinnon (Railway) and Graham Shaw (Loreto) complete the short-list, with Railway also nominated for the Club of the Year award.
Elaine Bromell (Catholic Institute), Aisling Campion (Loreto), Kate Dillon (Railway) and Emma Stewart (Armagh) are the nominees for Senior Player of the Year, with Leah Ewart (Armagh), Katie Mullan (Ballymoney), Gillian Pinder (Hermes) and Roisín Upton (Catholic Institute) up for the under-18 award.
IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE FINALS (at Lisnagarvey) – Tomorrow – Semi-finals: Pegasus v UCD, 10.30; Hermes v Railway Union, 12.30. Sunday – Final, 1.30.
