WOMEN'S HOCKEY: After last weekend's Irish Senior Cup exertions the leading clubs return to the business of league title-chasing this weekend, with Loreto still the team to catch in the Leinster first division.
After beating Randalstown last Saturday to go through to the quarter-finals of the cup Loreto stretched their lead at the top of the table to six points with a win over Three Rock on Sunday.
Hermes, then, know they can't afford too many more slip-ups, if any, if they are to have a chance of retaining the title they won last season.
They have a game in hand on Loreto but in the absence of their international trio of Jenny Burke, Fiona Connery and Linda Caulfield, and with Jenny Osborne and Aisling Keane still troubled by injuries, they are having to dig deep in to their reserves.
Caitriona Carey is proving as useful for Hermes off the pitch as she is on it this season - when she drives from Kilkenny for club duty she brings three hockey-playing schoolgirls with her, Aine Connery (sister of Fiona), Lisa Jacob and Elaine O'Neill, all of whom played in last weekend's cup win over Genesis. Hermes play Three Rock tomorrow.
After her recent involvement with the international squad Orla Ryan is available again for Loreto's title challenge, which continues tomorrow against Pembroke Wanderers.
Pembroke, who lost 2-1 to Loreto earlier in the season, are in need of points themselves to recharge their attempts at qualifying for the Club quarter-finals with a top three finish.
UCD and Corinthian meet tomorrow in a dress rehearsal for their Irish Cup quarter-final while Old Alexandra, level on points with Corinthian, will hope to keep the pressure on the top two by beating Genesis at Milltown. Railway Union meet bottom club Trinity in Donnybrook.
Meanwhile, Pegasus II play Clontarf in Belfast in the quarter-finals of the Irish Junior Cup, the competition they won last year.
LEINSTER LEAGUE: Division One: Loreto v Pembroke Wanderers, Beaufort, 1.45; Hermes v Three Rock, Booterstown, 3.0; Railway Union v Trinity, Donnybrook, 4.0; UCD v Corinthian, Belfield, 11.15; Old Alexandra v Genesis, Milltown, 1.15. Division Two - Tomorrow: Glenanne v Muckross, Tallaght, 3.15; Our Lady's v Diocesan, Terenure, 1.0. Sunday: Diocesan v Corinthian II, Rathgar, 2.0.
MUNSTER LEAGUE: Division One: Cork Harlequins v Church of Ireland, Farmer's Cross, 4.0; Waterford v UCC, Newtown School, 2.0.
ULSTER SHIELD: Quarter-finals: Belfast Harlequins v Ballymoney, Deramore, 4.0; Ballyclare v Ballymena, Valley Leisure Centre, 2.30; Owls v Victorians, Paisley Park, 2.30.
IRISH JUNIOR CUP: Quarter-finals: Cork Harlequins II v Hermes II, Farmer's Cross, 2.0; Pegasus II v Clontarf, Queens, 2.30; Ards II v Old Alexandra II, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.0; Ashton v Pembroke Wanderers II, Ashton School, 2.30.
