WOMEN'S HOCKEY:RAILWAY UNION began the biggest week of their season in fine style as they eased past Pembroke Wanderers in the Sandymount derby on Saturday. Neither team fully hit the heights of their potential but it was Railway who had the better of proceedings for the first two-thirds of the game before Pembroke had a late rally.
Kate McKenna opened the scoring; snapping up a rebound off former team-mate Jane Coyne's pads, after her initial shot was saved. Jean McDonnell's superb first-time effort made it two by the break before she grabbed a brace in the second half from a penalty corner.
Pembroke enjoyed a few late chances, earning several corners in the closing stages, but the normally dangerous Louisa Moore was kept quiet by the defensive efforts of Sarah McDonald and Eimear Dolan as Railway's winning ways continue.
They stay a point clear of the rest with a game in hand but could potentially be five more clear by this stage next week.
The Pembroke match was the first of three in seven days against potential title rivals with a trip to Belfield to face UCD on Wednesday followed by Loreto next Saturday on home turf - both opponents this week are unbeaten to date, too. Interestingly, the Loreto tie begins a bizarre run of fixtures with eight home matches in a row for Mick McKinnon's side before taking to the road for their final five.
Elsewhere, the results went pretty much to form as UCD beat Corinthian 3-0. Loreto beat Bray by the same score-line and Hermes were too strong for Glenanne. Old Alex were the only side in the bottom half to pick up points, thumping the currently pointless Trinity 5-0.
The opening weekend of the newly formed Irish Hockey Trophy saw current Leinster division two high-flyers Three Rock Ladies and Genesis pull off good victories against Catriona Carey's Kilkenny and Banbridge respectively.
