WOMEN'S HOCKEY:IT PROVED to be as profitable a weekend for Hermes as it was dispiriting for Loreto, with Hermes registering a crucial 2-1 victory over Railway Union in the league on Saturday before beating Loreto 1-0 in the semi-final of the Leinster Jacqui Potter Cup yesterday with a Linda Caulfield goal.

Hermes, then, will defend the cup they won last year, when they beat Loreto in the final, on St Patrick's Day, against Trinity who beat Railway's seconds 2-1 in yesterday's second semi-final. Rebecca Murphy got the students' winner 10 minutes from time after Railway's Louise McDermott had cancelled out Danielle Costigan's opening goal.

Loreto's league title defence, meanwhile, suffered a blow when they dropped two more points in their 2-2 draw with UCD on Saturday, but leaders Pembroke Wanderers maintained their momentum to open a five-point lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 defeat of Three Rock.

Railway, Hermes and Loreto are all now level on 29 points but Hermes have a game in hand on Pembroke, who they play at Booterstown next month, one of three tricky remaining fixtures for the leaders - they must also play Loreto and Railway away from home.