Leinster sides have edge

WOMENS HOCKEY: All the home teams in the five Irish Senior Cup ties that paired Ulster and Leinster clubs on Saturday prevailed…

WOMENS HOCKEY: All the home teams in the five Irish Senior Cup ties that paired Ulster and Leinster clubs on Saturday prevailed, with victories for Clontarf, Corinthians and Railway Union giving Leinster the "interprovincial" edge.

Clontarf went through on penalty strokes (3-2) after a scoreless draw against Parkview at Mount Temple while a goal in each half, from Karen Clark and Isobel Joyce, gave Railway a 2-0 win over Ballyclare.

Anna Ancher, Corinthians' Tasmanian-born captain, sent her team on their way to a 3-1 defeat of Omagh with two goals.

Ballymoney reproduced their league form in their game against UCD, although the students managed to keep their hosts scoreless in the first half, with Orla McGuinness saving a stroke shortly before the break.

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Lynsey McVicker, the Irish captain, made up for that missed opportunity by converting a second stroke, awarded in the 40th minute, before Nicky McCaughern (47th minute) and Aine Kearney (52nd) made the game safe.

Knock, meanwhile, got the better of Genesis (3-0) with the help of a goal apiece from the Edgar sisters, Laura and Sharon.

In the four all-Ulster ties Enniskillen, Victorians and Civil Service beat Portadown, Lisnagarvey and North Down, respectively, while Ards produced a surprise by eliminating Belfast Harlequins with a Julia Stewart stroke and a second goal from Tamara Stronge.

Pembroke Wanderers eased past NUIG, 6-0, and Connacht's interest in this year's competition ended with Galway's 2-0 home defeat by Munster's Ashton. A goal after 15 minutes by Julie Kirkpatrick was enough to give Cookstown a 1-0 at the Mardyke against UCC while Waterford won their all-Munster tie against Catholic Institute (2-1).

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times