HOCKEY Women's Hockey: While the top three in Leinster's first division, Loreto, Hermes and Railway Union, came through the weekend unscathed (scoring 11 goals between them and conceding none), fourth-placed Old Alexandra were held to a 1-1 draw by UCD at Milltown, a result that puts a large dent in their already slim title aspirations.

Alexandra now trail leaders Loreto by nine points and have fallen three points behind Railway.

To complete a disheartening weekend for Alexandra - Christine Quinlan levelled for UCD with 15 minutes to go on Saturday after Ciara Murphy had given the home side a first-half lead - they were knocked out of the Leinster Cup yesterday at the quarter-final stage, losing 4-1 to holders Loreto.

Handicapped by the absence of Leanne Ryan, Sarah O'Connor and Kerry Hiles, with Trish Conway a substitute because of a sciatic nerve problem, Alexandra were 2-0 down at half-time (through goals from Nikki Symmons and Cathy McKean) before falling further behind when McKean scored her second. Hazel Agar pulled a goal back but Caitriona O'Kelly restored Loreto's three-goal advantage.

The ever prolific McKean was also on the score-sheet for the Leinster champions on Saturday in their 3-0 league win over Clontarf, a scoreline that was matched by Hermes in their game against bottom club Genesis. Railway, though, outscored their rivals, Ciara O'Brien and Beth Maguire scoring two apiece in a 5-0 win over Three Rock.