Hermes nearly home and dry

WOMEN'S HOCKEY PREVIEWS:HAVING DONE their work on Wednesday night, when they beat Trinity 5-0 to go three points clear at the top of the first division, Hermes can effectively become Leinster champions tomorrow without playing, if Pembroke Wanderers fail to beat Loreto.

A draw or a Loreto victory would, mathematically, keep the title race alive until Monday evening's final fixture between Hermes and Pembroke, but a vastly superior goal difference means Hermes would have to lose that game by double digits to miss out on the title - and given they have conceded just six goals in 17 league matches that seems more than unlikely. For Pembroke to put up a more realistic challenge they must beat Loreto tomorrow and beat Hermes on Monday to clinch the club's first Division One title since 1975.

Bray sealed the Division Two title, and promotion, taking the place of Genesis, when they beat Railway Union II on Tuesday night and so to reach the top flight for the first time in their history.

Whether Glenanne will have a chance of joining Bray next season depends on the outcome of Monday's game between Railway II and Pembroke II. A Pembroke win would relegate Glenanne to third place, anything less and Glenanne would meet Three Rock (second from bottom of Division One) in a promotion/relegation play-off.

Ireland, meanwhile, continue their build-up to the Olympic Qualifier with games against France at Belfield, the first match tonight at 7.30, the second on Sunday (11.0).

WEEKEND FIXTURES:Internationals (at Belfield): Tonight: Ireland v France, 7.30. Sunday: Ireland v France, 11.0.

Leinster League: Division One: Tomorrow: Loreto v Pembroke Wanderers, Beaufort, 12.30; Railway Union v Trinity, Sandymount, 4.0. Monday: Hermes v Pembroke, Belfield, 8.0.

Leinster First Division - top four

P W D L F A Pts

Hermes 17 12 5 0 49 6 41

Loreto 17 11 5 1 40 18 38

Pembroke 16 11 4 1 39 10 37

Railway 17 11 3 3 43 16 36

Tomorrow:May Costley Cup final (at Belfield): Clonmel v Dromore, 2.0.