WOMEN'S HOCKEY:IT WAS four wins out of four for Leinster clubs in the first round of the Irish Hockey League at the weekend, Railway Union opening the defence of their title in style with a 7-2 victory over the team they beat in last season's final, Cork Harlequins.
The Munster champions simply had no answer to Railway’s attacking flair, finding themselves 5-0 down by the third minute of the second half. Kate Dillon began the rout only three minutes in to the game, Emma Smyth and Nikki Evans adding two more before half-time.
A drag flick from Dillon extended the lead immediately after the break, before Irish under-16 player Kate Lloyd marked her IHL debut with a goal. Cliodhna Sargent pulled one back for Harlequins, only for Evans and Jean McDonnell to make it 7-1, Sargent getting another consolation at the death.
UCD and Armagh also won their opening Pool B games, although Armagh, like Railway, picked up a bonus point by beating Ards 4-1. At Belfield Ballymoney led UCD through a Katie Mullan goal, but the students fought back though Caroline Hill and Chloe Watkins, her short corner strike coming in the final quarter.
In Pool A, Pegasus and Hermes both won their games by three goals, earning them bonus points, but it wasn’t until the final quarter of their tie against Catholic Institute that the Ulster champions secured their victory. Leading 3-2, Suzanne Beaney and Stephanie Quinn got the scores that finally saw off the challenge of the Munster league leaders.
Two UCC “old girls” helped Hermes to a 3-0 win over their former team at Belfield yesterday, Audrey O’Flynn’s drag flick and Áine Connery’s deflection coming either side of an Anna O’Flanagan goal. A double from Nicci Daly, meanwhile, put Loreto 2-0 up away to Belfast Harlequins, the Irish Senior Cup holders surviving a fightback from their hosts, for whom Sarah Wilkinson scored.
