Loreto lose Australian pair

After making a significant contribution to Loreto's Senior A challenge since their arrival in Dublin last November, Australians Peta Gallagher and Bronwyn Donnelly play their final match for the club tomorrow afternoon, against Pembroke Wanderers, before flying home.

Between them the pair have scored eight league goals, with two more from Gallagher helping the second team reach the Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals. But hockey commitments back home mean Loreto must complete the season without their services. Gallagher, a member of the Australian senior youth squad, returns to her club Canberra Strikers, who are preparing for the National Hockey League competition, while Donnelly has been selected for the Australian indoor team's tour of South Africa next month. "We've really enjoyed our time here, both the hockey and getting to see the country, so it was definitely worth coming over," said Gallagher, whose trip home should be a tad quicker than the one her Donegal-born great-great-grandfather made in the 1800s when he left for Australia.

Of the players Gallagher played with, Mary Barnwell impressed her most. "She's such a smart hockey player, I can see everything she tries to do and I think I can relate to her more than any other player. You can tell she was a great international player but, even now, she often stands out as the most skilful player on the pitch."

Barnwell's winner, five minutes from time, against Hermes last week gave the club their ninth successive league win, leaving them four points clear of the defending champions and six ahead of Old Alexandra.

Both clubs, though, have two games in hand on Loreto, meaning, realistically, that if they are to have any hope of clinching the title they will have to win their six remaining games: Pembroke, Muckross and Glenanne away and Genesis, Old Alexandra and Trinity at home.