WOMEN'S HOCKEY:PEGASUS OPENED the defence of their Irish Hockey League title with a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Catholic Institute on Saturday, former international Suzanne Beaney scoring twice after the Limerick club had taken the lead.
Eimear Cregan, the former Irish captain, put the Munster champions a goal up after just nine minutes when she turned home Kym Daly’s cross from the right. But her one-time Irish team-mate, Claire McMahon, prompted the comeback, creating both Beaney’s goals before half-time.
Hermes and UCD, though, are the early leaders in the pool after picking up bonus points in their 3-0 victories. A month before they meet in the Irish Senior Cup, Hermes got the better of Old Alexandra thanks to goals from Sinead Connery, Miriam Crowley and Kerry McComish.
Deirdre Duke, Leah Ewart and Hannah de Burgh White, meanwhile, were on target to give UCD a comfortable win over Armagh at Belfield.
In Pool B, Loreto, Ballymoney and Railway Union all collected bonus points, Ballymoney the top scorers with four against UCC.
A late goal from Cathy McKean, set up by Nikki Symmons, clinched Loreto that extra point in a 3-0 defeat of Cork Harlequins.
Railway beat Lurgan by the same scoreline away from home.
