Railway claim honours in Loreto clash

Women's Division One:
Railway Union 3 (Nikki Evans 2, Kate Dillon) Loreto 2 (Cathy McKean, Nicci Daly)
Railway bagged the odd goal in five to end Loreto's 100pc record while keeping their own perfect run in all competitions with an entertaining win at Park Avenue this afternoon. The Beaufort side attacked for long periods but Railway had the inspiration in front of goal to take the Christmas bonus on offer in division one.

Jean McDonnell inspired the first Nikki Evans' goal, dinking the ball down the left wing before playing in the former Hermes player who flicked into the goal midway through the first half. But after an early period of dominance, Railway were placed under the kosh by Loreto for the last 15 minutes and eventually Cathy McKean came up trumps with a smart corner move for a 1-1 half-time scoreline.

But the hosts raced back into the lead after the turnaround when Kate Dillon finished off a fine team move, a typically swift break-out move, before Evans rebounded a corner to make it 3-1 in jig-time. Nicci Daly pulled one back with seven minutes to go as Loreto attempted to fight back, aided by Emma Smyth and Dillon's sin-binnings.

Old Alex 0 Hermes 1 (Jenny Burke)

Jenny Burke's 50th minute goal proved the only strike of the day as Hermes enjoyed the majority of possession and territory but found Alex a tough nut to crack at Milltown. They won the corner count by nine to one, hitting the post on one occasion but Burke's finish was all they had to show for their endeavour. Meanwhile, Fiona Connery impressed in defence to keep the goal's against column empty.

Pembroke 3 (Natalie Fulton, Shona Doyle, Karen Hales) Trinity 0

Pembroke moved up to places in the Christmas charts as they picked up a comfortable win at Serpentine Avenue. Natalie Fulton began the goal-rush with a corner before Shona Doyle made it 2-0 at half-time from play. Karen Hales scored another corner goal in the second half. The students end 2009 in fifth place but Pembroke and Old Alex have games in hand and will push hard for the IHL play-off place.

Jacqui Potter Cup (Sunday):
Hilda Maguire's goal was the sole strike to count in the Jacqui Potter Cup on Sunday as Pembroke were taken to extra-time by Trinity in the only match to survive the weather. Pembroke won 1-0 and join Hermes in the quarter-finals after the Booterstown club received a walkover from Skerries. Old Alex II against Genesis was the only other tie to tip off but was abandoned midway through the second half as the frost returned. The Milltown club were leading 2-0 at the time.

* For Deryck Vincent's photos of Old Alex ve Hermes, click here