Women's Hockey: Played 17, won 15, drew two - and with that record Loreto retained their Leinster League first division title on Saturday. Hermes kept the pressure on by beating Three Rock earlier in the afternoon, but despite their best efforts Pembroke Wanderers couldn't deny Loreto victory at Beaufort, the three points enough to seal the title for Siobhán Keogh's team.

Cathy McKean (two), Caitriona O'Kelly and Sarah Scott got the goals for Loreto in their 4-2 win, the first two coming in the opening 10 minutes, but Pembroke made a game of it, trailing 2-3 at half-time. With a final short corner count of 12-3 in their favour Loreto had ample scoring opportunities but it wasn't until they opened a two-goal advantage again in the second half that the title seemed secure.

When they won their last league title, two seasons ago, Hermes did it with a points total of 40. They reached that very mark on Saturday, with two games to spare, with goals from Jenny Burke and Shirine Young.

That Hermes could finish on 46 points and still have to settle for the runners-up spot is a measure of the season Loreto have had. The teams meet next weekend (and in Thursday's Leinster Cup final) in Loreto's final league game (Hermes must also play Railway Union) - a win for Loreto, a game away from completing their second successive league season unbeaten, would see them reach 50 points.

Railway's season, by their recent standards, has been no less startling. They finished seventh in the last campaign, on 19 points, but a year later, with three games still to play, they have clinched at least third place in the division and qualification for the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Goals from Beth Maguire and Karen Clarke gave Railway a 2-0 win over fourth-placed Old Alexandra on Saturday, with Alexandra's 1-0 defeat to Pembroke yesterday ending their hopes of catching Railway.