WOMEN'S HOCKEY:AFTER ALMOST a three-month gap the Irish Hockey League resumes this weekend with several clubs still in contention for a place in the semi-finals. Railway Union and Pegasus, leaders of pool A and B respectively, are close to sealing their spots in the last four, but there's so little between the teams chasing them that the semi-final line-up won't be complete until after next month's final round of games.
Having won all three of their ties so far, taking a bonus point from each, Railway are comfortably on course for the last four, but they can make certain of their qualification if they beat Church of Ireland in Cork tomorrow.
Just three points separates the four teams behind Railway, second-placed Pembroke Wanderers leading that pack. A win over Ards would boost their hopes of going through, but they’re away to Railway in their final game.
In pool B Pegasus are just two points ahead of defending champions Loreto and Hermes but with home games against Old Alexandra (Sunday) and Randalstown (March 14th) to come, and the Leinster pair meeting next month, they look well-placed to qualify.
Neither Loreto nor Hermes, then, can afford any slip-ups ahead of that game, but both sides are away tomorrow – Loreto visit Munster league leaders UCC and Hermes take on bottom club Randalstown.
Meanwhile, the Euro Hockey Indoor Club Challenge gets under way this afternoon at the University of Galway Sports Complex, the first European tournament ever to be staged by Connacht. Teams from the Czech Republic (Slavia Praha), Sweden (Valhalla) and Wales (Howardian) will compete with hosts Galway for promotion to the Champions Trophy, the second division of European indoor hockey.
Galway are captained by Emma Glanville, once of Pembroke Wanderers, and have former Irish international Tara Browne in goal. They also include four under-18 Irish players as well as 14-year-old Elaine Carey, an Irish under-16 panellist. “It will be a momentous occasion for the club and for Connacht hockey in general,” said coach Richard Malone, who is also in charge of the Irish under-18 team. Having finishing a credible fourth in our first ever European competition last year we hope to build on that success and push teams a little closer this time round. We have set our sights high and will be pushing for promotion, but the reality is that we are learning more about indoor every step of the way.”
IRISH HOCKEY LEAGUE: Round four, Pool A – Tomorrow: Church of Ireland v Railway Union, Garryduff, 1.0; Ballymoney v Cork Harlequins, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Ards, Serpentine Avenue, 2.30. Pool B – Tomorrow: Randalstown v Hermes, Antrim Forum, 2.30; UCC v Loreto, Garryduff, 3.0. Sunday – Pegasus v Old Alexandra, Queens, 1.0.
