After a 10-week break the Irish Hockey League returns tomorrow with the penultimate round of pool matches. Hermes and Pegasus in pool A and Loreto and UCD in pool B are currently in pole position for semi-final places.

UCD’s hopes of retaining their Leinster League title were hit by the docking of three points for fielding an unregistered player in September against Glenanne, while the reigning IHL champions were deducted four points for a similar offence against Ards.

Unlike Glenanne, Ards weren’t awarded those points, but UCD’s penalty brings the Ulster League leaders to within one point of the students. That, then, makes the pool a decidedly more open affair, with just three points separating the top four of Loreto (9), UCD (8), Ards (7) and Ulster Elks (6).

Pool A is also still open, second meeting third tomorrow in the Pegasus (10) v Lurgan (7) game. A win for Pegasus would all but decide the pool, with Lurgan’s final game away to Hermes (10), their opponents tomorrow Ballymoney.