Lots of loose ends to tie up

Women's Hockey Club championship With Pegasus, Loreto and Cork Harlequins already confirmed as their province's champions this…

Women's Hockey Club championshipWith Pegasus, Loreto and Cork Harlequins already confirmed as their province's champions this final league weekend will determine who joins them in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, as well as finalising most of the promotion and relegation issues.

Two 3-0 midweek wins over Victorians and Belfast Harlequins sealed Pegasus' seventh Ulster title in a row - they finish their league campaign against relegated Portadown tomorrow having lost just one game all season.

Randalstown will finish as Ulster runners-up but Harlequins and Coleraine are still in a battle for third place.

Old Alexandra's 3-0 win over Railway Union on Monday night, followed by Hermes' scoreless draw with Genesis on Wednesday, means Old Alex will be assured of second place, for the second year running, if they can beat Three Rock at Grange Road tomorrow.

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They could, though, even afford to lose if Hermes (four points behind with a game in hand) fail to win their final two fixtures, against Trinity tomorrow and Railway on Sunday.

Pembroke Wanderers (fourth) and Corinthian (fifth), whose 1-1 draw on Tuesday did neither club any great favours, need Hermes to slip up drastically this weekend if either is to pip them to third place.

Trinity must beat Hermes to have any hope of avoiding finishing bottom - if they fail, and if Clontarf take a point from their game against Glenanne (one they won't even need if Pembroke II fail to beat champions Loreto II) they will be replaced by Clontarf in the first division next season.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Leinster League: Division One - UCD v Pembroke Wanderers, Belfield, 11.15; Loreto v Corinthian, Milltown, 1.0; Three Rock v Old Alexandra, Grange Road, 2.30; Hermes v Trinity, Booterstown, 4.0; Railway Union v Genesis, Donnybrook. Sunday: Division One - Railway Union v Hermes, Donnybrook, 5.45. Division Two - Clontarf v Glenanne, Glasnevin, 12.0; Our Lady's v Hermes II, Templeogue, 12.0; Loreto II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Beaufort, 2.30; Diocesan v Old Alexandra II, Templeogue, 2.30; Corinthian II v Muckross, Whitechurch, 4.15.

Leinster Cup finals (at Grange Road): Sunday: Division 5-6 - Our Lady's II v Aer Lingus II, 1.0. Division 3-4 - Loreto III v Skerries, 3.0.

Munster League: Division One - Church of Ireland v Catholic Institute, Garryduff, 2.15; Bandon v Waterford, Bandon, 1.30.

Ulster League: Senior One - Coleraine v Victorians, UUC, 2.30; Ballymena v Randalstown, Ballymena, 2.30; Pegasus v Portadown, Queens, 2.30.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times