Loreto hit 12 goals away to North Kildare

HOCKEY:The gap between the top and bottom five in the Leinster first division was already sizeable enough, but after Saturday's games between the two "halves" it broadened even more, 29-1 the aggregate score when the goals from the five meetings were totted up.

Glenanne’s Clare Shillington was the only player from one of the lower half clubs to score in the fixtures, in her side’s 3-1 defeat by Railway Union, with Loreto, Hermes, UCD and Old Alexandra amassing 26 goals between them without reply.

Loreto had the highest tally of all, running amok away to North Kildare in a 12-0 win, Cathy McKean and Sarah Clarke getting a hat-trick apiece. Gillian Pender scored two in Hermes’ 6-0 defeat of Trinity, UCD and Old Alexandra both winning 4-0, against Pembroke Wanderers and Corinthian respectively.

There’s no points change, then, in the title – or relegation – battle, UCD maintaining their two-point lead over Loreto, with Railway, who have a game in hand, another point back. Alexandra and Hermes hold on to fourth and fifth positions.

Meanwhile, the schedule for August’s European Championships in Belgium has been confirmed by the European Hockey Federation, Ireland opening their campaign against champions the Netherlands, before playing Belarus and the hosts.