Hermes at the double

Women's Hockey: Hermes had a weekend to remember, beating Loreto 4-0 at Beaufort on Saturday, the Leinster champions' first league defeat of the season, before advancing to the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup yesterday with a 2-0 win over league leaders Pembroke Wanderers.

Saturday's comprehensive victory over Loreto - who they have been drawn against in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals - lifted Hermes a point clear of their old rivals in the table, four behind Pembroke.

They led 2-0 at half-time, doubling their advantage after the break, Jenny Burke, Carol Devine, Linda Caulfield and Sinead McDonnell their scorers.

Like Hermes Pembroke remain unbeaten, a Lorna Hill double helping them to a 3-1 win over UCD, while Railway Union stay in second after beating Three Rock 2-0.

The top two, though, both went out of the Leinster Senior Cup yesterday, two more goals from Hermes' Burke ending Pembroke's run and Railway falling to an extra-time winner, less than a minute from the end, in their 3-2 defeat by Loreto.

The second semi-final pairs Trinity, 3-2 extra time winners over Glenanne, and Railway Union II, who beat Loreto II 3-0.

Three weeks after suffering the rarest of defeats in the league (to UCC) Cork Harlequins were beaten in the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior Cup, a competition they have won for the last decade.

It was Church of Ireland who beat the holders this time around, 3-1 at Farmer's Cross.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Trinity v Genesis, postponed. Old Alexandra 2 (Z Dahl 2), Corinthian 4 (S Walker 3, F Purcell); Pembroke Wanderers 3 (L Hill 2, S Collins pen), UCD 1 (S Gleeson); Loreto 0, Hermes 4 (J Burke, C Devine, L Caulfield, S McDonnell); Railway Union 2 (E Dillon, K Evans), Three Rock 0.

JACQUI POTTER LEINSTER CUP(Quarter-finals): Trinity 3 (D Costigan, C Murphy, C Hearnden), Glenanne 2 (M Waldron, L Kennedy), after extra-time. Hermes 2 (J Burke 2), Railway Union 0; Pembroke Wanderers 2 (W Hobson, S Clarke), Loreto 3 (J Lynch 2, N Keegan), after extra-time. Railway Union II 3 (R Lynch, K McKenna, L O'Dwyer), Loreto II 0. Semi-final draw: Trinity v Railway Union II, Loreto v Hermes.