UCD end holders' reign

WOMEN’S HOCKEY: IN THE battle of the Leinster and Ulster champions at Belfield on Saturday, a late goal from Anna O’Flanagan…

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:IN THE battle of the Leinster and Ulster champions at Belfield on Saturday, a late goal from Anna O'Flanagan knocked holders Pegasus out of the Irish Senior Cup at the quarter-final stage, UCD winning 2-1 to set up a semi-final meeting with Railway Union on May 12th. Loreto play Queen's in the second semi-final at Belfield, with the decider taking place the following day.

Pegasus beat the students at the semi-final stage of the competition last year, but having lost to them in the 2009 final they would have been more than wary of their threat. And the Belfast side went behind when Nicola Gray converted a penalty corner, but they were level shortly before the break when Natalie Pinkerton scored.

O’Flanagan, though, decided the game when she turned home Chloe Watkins’s pass just as the tie appeared to be heading for extra time. Next, then, for Johnny Harte’s side, who have already won two trophies this season, are Railway, the team they pipped to the Leinster Dvision One title.

Railway handed out a 9-0 drubbing to Armagh, their coach Mike McKinnon’s former club, Zara Delany top scoring with four goals, Jean McDonnell and Cecelia Joyce getting two apiece. Loreto also had a convincing victory, beating Old Alexandra 5-0, Cathy McKean scoring twice. They now meet the competition’s outsiders, Queen’s; Julie Allison got the only goal of their game against Trinity.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times