Women’s hockey: Hermes look to recapture momentum after Loreto defeat

Second-placed Railway three points behind with game in hand

Hermes play bottom club North Kildare twice before end of season. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

After Loreto put an end to Hermes’ 12-match unbeaten run, with a fine 3-0 win over the league leaders, the Leinster Division One title race has opened up. Hermes still have a three-point cushion but the rest of the top five have a game in hand and they must play Loreto again in their final game of the season.

Before then, though, they play bottom club North Kildare twice, the first of their meetings at Booterstown tomorrow. Two of second-placed Railway Union’s remaining games are against third-from-bottom Glenanne, the first of them at Park Avenue tomorrow.

Defending champions UCD, two points adrift of Railway, can’t afford any slip-ups away to Corinthian. Loreto will look to maintain their momentum when they meet Old Alexandra at Milltown, while Pembroke Wanderers, level on points with Loreto (one behind UCD), meet Trinity at Serpentine Avenue.

Railway’s firsts and seconds are both in the last eight of the Jacqui Potter Cup on Sunday, the former at home to Trinity, the latter hosting UCD’s second team. Muckross, third in division two, host Glenanne, while Loreto take on Hermes.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times