It's proving to be quite a season for Munster champions Harlequins. They have already guaranteed themselves at least a place in an end of season title play-off, having won the first of their province's two split leagues before Christmas, and last month they reached their first Irish Senior Cup semi-final since 1976 when they beat Pembroke Wanderers in a replay.

On Saturday, despite being without their three international players, they overcame old rivals UCC to win through to the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup. Hillary Chapple settled an evenly contested match with a goal five minutes from time, following a breakdown from a short corner.

In the day's other quarter-final, Church of Ireland beat the University of Limerick 31 with goals from Jenny Kenefick, Adele Moloney and Kathy Walsh - they meet Belvedere in the semi-finals while Harlequins will face the winners of the tie between their second team and Church of Ireland II.

Kilkenny and Pegasus II will meet in this year's Irish Junior Cup final, in what will be a repeat of the 1997 decider, after winning their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Jacqui Stokes (three) and Deirdre Keher (two) contributed the majority of Kilkenny's goals in an 8-0 drubbing of Diocesan while Pegasus II, who beat Kilkenny in 1997, also had a comfortable passage to the final, beating Three Rock Ladies 4-1 in Belfast.

The top three in Leinster all won their league ties on Saturday, with two goals from Fiona Sweeney helping leaders Old Alexandra to a 3-0 win over Trinity and an Aisling Keane double sending Hermes on their way to victory over Glenanne by the same scoreline.

Loreto, still waiting for news of their appeal against being docked three points, beat Muckross 4-1 (Cathy McKean scored a hattrick) while Railway Union picked up what could prove to be a crucial point in their battle against relegation in a 0-0 draw against Pembroke Wanderers.

A goal from Caitriona Carey midway through the first half gave Ireland a 1-0 victory over the USA in San Diego last night, in their final practice match before today's full international. Sharon Hutchinson saved a penalty stroke 20 minutes from time to preserve the lead and ensure the team's second successive clean sheet against the Americans.