Hermes finish the stronger

Women's hockey/Leinster Senior Cup final/ Hermes 2; Loreto 1: Yesterday's win at Grange Road should put Hermes in good fettle for their Irish Senior Cup final against Ballymoney.

Deservingly won from behind with all three goals coming in the first half, yesterday's Leinster Cup final was Loreto's fifth in succession. An admirable feat but the side may be somewhat disappointed they have returned just two wins now from their five final appearances.

Losing a trophy regardless of how many finals they've been in may be shocking to such a successful club but Loreto's win in the Leinster Senior League last weekend makes it a pretty good time of year for the losers.

Hermes deserved the win for their attacking ability and while Loreto looked dangerous on the break, it was Hermes at the end who were the fresher side.

Jenny Burke was the strongest player on the pitch while her pacey colleague Catriona Carey popped up just about everywhere. Always lively on the ball Carey created numerous one-on-ones with Loreto goalkeeper Louisa Healy, who dealt well with the striker on each occasion.

Loreto took the lead midway through the first half somewhat against the run of play and on their first short corner. Captain Sara O'Meara's strike, which may have taken a small deflection, put them in front after 26 minutes.

But Hermes continued in the same vein, creating opportunities, most of them dealt with proficiently by a sturdy Loreto defence. Aisling Keane's strike on Hermes' third corner after Shirine Young had made a break up the right flank brought the sides level with three minutes remaining in the half. Then Young gave Hermes the lead, her touch in the circle following a left wing pass from Aoife Mitchell bringing it to 2-1 at the break.

The second half was even but Hermes finished the stronger, Carey's speed off the mark and her cutting runs to the Loreto goal eye-catching to the end.

HERMES: T Browne; A Keane, A McCarthy, F Connery, R Burke, M Logue, L Caulfield, C Carey, S McLoughlin, J Burke (capt), C Devine. Rolling Subs: C Lawson, S Young, J Lawson.

LORETO: L Healy; C Grealy, S O'Meara (capt), S Cooney, O Ryan, N Symmons, C Tipping, L O'Neil, C McKean, S Scott, W Byrne. Rolling Subs: N Keegan, N Small, AM Cullen, M Harkin, J O'Neil.

Umpires: C Kelly, J Beamish.