Cup semi-finals impossible to call

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THE ESB Irish Senior Cup, as is its habit, has produced two intriguing pairings for tomorrow's semi-finals, both Ulster v Leinster affairs, both impossible to predict.

If the home sides can take full advantage of playing on their turf, then holders Pegasus will meet Railway Union in the final at Belfield at the end of the month. But Loreto and Ballymoney's impressive pedigree in the competition in recent years has seen them win many a daunting away fixture.

Pegasus, though, tend to be marked as favourites for any game, such is their standing in Irish hockey, but Loreto, with their four internationals available to them again - Cathy McKean, Nikki Symmons, Louisa Healy and Niamh Small - and cup winners in 2002 and 2003, shouldn't be short of confidence going in to the tie.

The second semi-final at Park Avenue, between Railway and Ballymoney, two youthful and gifted sides, is no less absorbing a prospect. While they've had their slip-ups along the way, Railway have put up an excellent showing in this season's Leinster League, currently lying joint second with Hermes and Loreto.

But they will be no less wary of their visitors than Pegasus will be of theirs, not least because Ballymoney knocked out Hermes in the last round.

That defeat means Hermes must concentrate on league action this weekend.

They play Corinthian tomorrow and Trinity on Sunday (that game is a refixture after it was postponed last Monday night), and can move within a point of leaders Pembroke Wanderers.

In Munster, Cork Harlequins can draw level at the top with Church of Ireland if they beat Catholic Institute, setting up a league decider against C of I in the teams' final fixture of the season.

FIXTURES

TOMORROW: Irish Senior Cup: Semi-finals: Railway Union v Ballymoney, Park Avenue, 3.15; Pegasus v Loreto, Queen's, 1.0.

TOMORROW: Leinster League: Division One: UCD v Genesis, Belfield, 11.15; Old Alexandra v Three Rock, Booterstown, 12.30; Corinthian v Hermes, Whitechurch, 1.0. Sunday: Trinity v Hermes, Santry, 3.0.

TOMORROW: Munster League: Division One: Catholic Institute v Cork Harlequins, Rosbrien, 12.30.

JUNIOR INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Enniscorthy): Tomorrow: Leinster v Connacht, 10.0; South East v Ulster, 12.0; Connacht v Ulster, 4.0. Sunday: South East v Connacht, 9.30; Leinster v Ulster, 11.30; South East v Leinster, 3.30.