Women's Hockey/Weekend round-up: True, the weekend programme cleared up most of the remaining league issues around the country, but there's still the small matter of the Leinster division one title to be resolved.
Old Alexandra went top of the table yesterday after beating Trinity, making it six points out of six following their win over Glenanne on Saturday, but they can only finish second with the title decider between Hermes and Loreto to come on Wednesday night.
Loreto came from behind to beat UCD 3-2 on Saturday, with Nikki Symmons rounding off a marvellous move started by Caitriona O'Kelly to score the winner midway through the second half, having been kept in the game by Louisa Healy's goalkeeping: three times she thwarted UCD in one-on-ones. UCD thus miss out on a top three finish and any hope of reaching the all-Ireland play-offs.
Hermes, the only unbeaten team in division one after 17 games, had a more comfortable afternoon against Genesis, winning 4-0 with goals from Mary Logue, Aisling Keane, Carol Devine and Shirine Young.
Trish Conway, meanwhile, all but sealed her place at the top of the division one scorers' list with four goals in an 11-0 win over relegated Glenanne. Alicia O'Connor got the all-important winner against Trinity yesterday to assure Alexandra of the runners-up spot in the league.
Alexandra now meet Pembroke Wanderers in a play-off for qualification for the all-Ireland quarter-finals, having replaced Pembroke in the post-Christmas top three, but, once again, Hermes and Loreto will meet to determine the destination of the title. A draw will suffice for Hermes at Belfield on Wednesday, Loreto must win to take the title on the "games won".
Despite losing their final two games over the weekend, Trinity retain their first division status thanks to Elaine O'Donoghue's late equaliser for Aer Lingus against Clontarf, a goal that saw Clontarf drop to third in division two after Hermes II's 1-0 win over Old Alexandra II. Three Rock, then, are the only club to be promoted to the top flight, taking Glenanne's place in division one.
Ards' 2-1 defeat by Coleraine ended their hopes of beating Pegasus - 3-0 winners over Portadown - to the Ulster title. Ards finish second and will play Old Alexandra in the club quarter-finals, if Alexandra can get past Pembroke in the Leinster play-off. If Pembroke prevail, they will play Cork Harlequins, with the team that misses out on the Leinster title playing Ards.
The Leinster champions will play Belfast Harlequins, third in Ulster, while Pegasus meet the winners of the play-off between the Munster runners-up (Bandon or Church of Ireland - they meet on Tuesday night) and the Connacht champions.
UCD's Catherine Murray has withdrawn from the Irish senior panel for personal reasons.
