Women's Hockey: A draw against Old Alexandra at Belfield today (1.30) would see Hermes retain their Club Championship title after they beat both the Leinster and Ulster champions over the weekend.
On Saturday they inflicted on Loreto only their second domestic loss of the season before avenging their Irish Cup final defeat by Pegasus yesterday, scoring three goals in four second-half minutes.
Alexandra, runners-up to Hermes last year, kept their hopes of a first club title alive by beating Loreto yesterday, to add to Saturday's draw against Pegasus, and if they can repeat the result of their last meeting with Hermes (2-0 in the league in January) then Orla Bell will complete what has already been an impressive debut season as Alexandra coach.
Hermes, though, must be favourites, not least because of the quality of their comeback against Pegasus yesterday. The cup holders looked comfortable in a scoreless first half before taking the lead in the 44th minute, Kirsty McCollum deflecting Arlene Boyles's short corner to the roof of the net.
But Hermes responded quickly with goals in the 49th, 52nd and 53rd minutes - two from Christine Quinlan and one from Caitriona Carey.
The defeat put Pegasus out of the tournament, following their draw with Alexandra when they fought back, through Boyles, for a draw, after Anya Bowers had given the Leinster side the lead.
Hermes had already dented Loreto's hopes with Saturday's 2-1 win, hopes that were ended yesterday when Loreto conceded two goals in the first seven minutes to Alexandra, though Nikki Symmons pulled a goal back before the break.
In light of the tournament standings after the weekend, today's games have been swapped - Loreto v Pegasus is now at 9.30 a.m., with the championship decider, Hermes v Old Alexandra, scheduled for 1.30.
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