WOMEN'S HOCKEY:REIGNING LEINSTER champions Hermes stand between Railway Union and the division one title this weekend, the teams meeting at Park Avenue tomorrow in their final fixture of the league campaign. Railway can clinch the title with a victory, but if they slip up then UCD, two points behind, can overtake them at the death.
While the club’s international players are free to play tomorrow, weary as they might be just six days after the end of their Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgium, Hermes, back in fifth place, are likely to be without five of their six players on the Irish squad, Lisa Jacob the only one available.
Definitely out is Audrey O’Flynn. She learned on her return from Belgium that she had played in the final with a fractured jaw, the injury sustained in the pool match against Spain the previous Thursday.
The Cork woman was examined by a Belgian doctor but was not referred for an X-ray, the extent of the injury only picked up when she had it seen to in Dublin on Tuesday.
O’Flynn – the tournament’s top scorer, getting her eighth goal in the final – was operated on on Wednesday and had a plate inserted in her jaw.
A weakened Hermes might not be capable of troubling Railway, unbeaten in their 17 games so far. But even a draw could allow UCD take the title if they manage to beat Old Alexandra at Milltown.
That combination of results would leave the teams level on 46 points. But the students would have one more victory, enough to have them declared champions.
Alexandra need a point to be mathematically sure of fourth place and automatic qualification for next season’s Irish Hockey League. But only a Hermes win over Railway could deny them.
At the other end of the table, Three Rock are certain to finish bottom and will face North Kildare in a promotion/relegation play-off.
Loreto’s seconds won the second division title on Monday night.
Leinster League – Division One – Tomorrow: Pembroke Wanderers v Corinthian, Serpentine Avenue, 11am;
Old Alexandra v UCD, Milltown, 1pm; Glenanne v Three Rock, St Mark’s, 1pm; Loreto v Trinity, Beaufort, 1.30pm; Railway Union v Hermes, Park Avenue, 3.45pm.
Irish Hockey Challenge (Final) – Tomorrow: Botanic v Kilkenny, Belfield, 1.15pm. Irish Hockey Trophy (Final) Sunday: Greenfields v Omagh, 1.15pm.
