Hermes and Railway to duel once more

Hermes and Railway Union will face off for the fourth time in eight days this afternoon as they both qualified for the final of the National Indoor Trophy with wins over Old Alex and Galway, respectively.

Railway gained revenge for their 2008 loss at the hands of Galway with a sterling second half performance, inspired by Kate Dillon and Claire McGarity to convert a 2-2 half-time scoreline into a 6-2 win.

Elaine Newell had given Galway the lead inside three minutes but Dillon and an excellent Lisa McCarthy goal switched the lead only for Deirdre Hatton to tie the game up at half-time. But Dillon restored the lead and McCarthy grabbed the crucial fourth goal in the 31st minute.

McGarity made the game safe before Dillon completed her hat-trick into an open net after Tara Browne was withdrawn as Galway chased the game.

Hermes’ passage was much simpler, firing five past Old Alex with Jenny Burke the chief threat in the playmaker goal, grabbing two goals in the process.

It sets up a repeat of yesterday’s fascinating group game which ended 3-3, Aine Connery scoring in the last minute to earn the tie.

Women’s semi-finals:
Old Alex 0 Hermes 5 (Jenny Burke 2, Elaine O’Neill, Aine Connery, Aisling Keane); Railway Union 6 (Kate Dillon 3, Lisa McCarthy 2, Claire McGarity) Galway 2 (Elaine Newell, Deirdre Hatton)
Final: Hermes vs Railway Union, 6.30pm, National Basketball Arena

* For more of Adrian Boehm's photos from the National Indoor Trophy semi-finals, click here