HOCKEY:Goals proved to be scarce in the Leinster first division on Saturday, with three of the five ties ending in scoreless draws, including the clash of defending champions Loreto and Hermes, who finished runners-up in the league last season.
Loreto, with their full complement of internationals back in action, had the better of the first half and created enough chances to have led by the break.
But Hermes, who no longer have a single player in the Ireland squad and were without Linda Caulfield on Saturday, battled back well in the second half.
The games between UCD and Pembroke Wanderers and Genesis and Trinity also finished without goals, but Railway Union found goals easier to come by against Three Rock, Jean McDonnell scoring twice in a 3-0 win.
Barbara Fitzgerald, meanwhile, clinched the points for Old Alexandra with a goal 15 minutes into the second half away to Corinthian.
In Munster, champions Cork Harlequins got the defence of their title off to a winning start with a resounding 6-0 defeat of Ashton. Karen Bateman scored a hat-trick.
In Ulster, however, Pegasus were held to a scoreless draw by Armagh.
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