HOCKEY:The tweaking of the format of the All Ireland Club Championships in the last couple of seasons was, largely, done with the intention of making the series more competitive and giving hockey's lesser lights a chance to upset the form.

But the cream rose to the top at Belfield at the weekend, with the Ulster, Munster and Leinster women's champions, Pegasus, Cork Harlequins and Loreto, and defending champions Hermes, qualifying for next weekend's semi-finals.

But if the line-up for the last four proved predictable enough the opening phase of the championships was competitive, with only Hermes assured of their place in the semi-finals by the end of Saturday's group games.

By the close of play yesterday, however, the challenge of Ballymoney, Church of Ireland, Old Alexandra and Randalstown had been seen off, Alexandra's draw with Randalstown, after the Dublin side had led through an Aisling Flinn goal, taking the pressure off Loreto and Harlequins when they met in the final Pool B fixture.

Loreto's form in this competition has generally been woeful, but their second-half display against Harlequins yesterday, having trailed 2-0 at the break, proved the performance of the weekend. A hat-trick from Cathy McKean, the player of the tournament, one from a penalty stroke, the third falling into the sublime category, gave them a 3-2 win.

Loreto's reward is a semi-final against Hermes, who led Pegasus through a disputed Mary Logue goal, before the Belfast side landed goals from Arlene Boyles and Suzanne Beaney.

Pegasus, whose place in the last four had been jeopardised by a 1-1 draw on Friday with C of I, play Harlequins in the semi-finals. The form book in this tournament says Hermes should meet Pegasus in Sunday's final.