Women's Hockey:WITH ONE round of pool matches still to go Railway Union and Pegasus booked their places in the semi-finals of the Irish Hockey League at the weekend. Wins over Church of Ireland (2-0) and Old Alexandra (3-1), respectively, putting the Leinster and Ulster champions through.

The last two places, though, won’t be decided until next month’s games. Pembroke Wanderers and Cork Harlequins are the chief contenders for the runners-up spot in pool A (Ards still have a mathematical, if unlikely, chance of qualifying), with Hermes and Loreto’s meeting at Beaufort set to determine which of the two will join Pegasus in the last four.

A draw would suffice for Hermes in that encounter after they picked up a bonus point on Saturday with a 4-1 win away to Randalstown, a margin of victory that would have been significantly greater but for the performance of home goalkeeper Emma Teggerty. An own goal four minutes from time gave Loreto a 2-1 win away to UCC, the defending IHL champions, for whom Nicci Daly equalised, recovering from going 1-0 down after just 90 seconds.

For all their struggles in the Leinster League Pembroke remain just one of three unbeaten teams in the IHL (Railway and Pegasus the others), their 2-1 win over Ards – Jill Collins and Sarah Clarke getting their goals after they had trailed) – keeping them a point clear of Harlequins.

The Munster champions, 2-1 winners away to Ballymoney, must now hope Pembroke fail to spring a surprise against Railway next month, while completing their pool campaign with a win at home to Ards.

There was no joy for Galway at the Euro Hockey Indoor Club Challenge over the weekend, the hosts losing five of their six games. Slavia Praha of the Czech Republic won the tournament, and promotion to the Champions Trophy, with six wins out of six.