Joyce injury mars Railway victory

Weekend Hockey:There were mixed emotions for Railway Union on Saturday, the Leinster club's joy at reaching the quarter-finals of the ESB Irish Senior Cup, after beating Armagh on penalty strokes, tempered by confirmation Isobel Joyce had fractured her index finger in three places during the game, an injury that may rule the sporting all-rounder out of the forthcoming World Cup Cricket Qualifying tournament.

Joyce, whose twin sister Cecelia also plays for Railway and the Irish cricket team, and whose brother Ed is an England cricket international, was due to play in the qualifier in Pakistan this month but it was postponed due to the recent political upheaval in the country and has yet to be rescheduled. The injury is to her bowling hand.

Railway and Armagh were 1-1 after extra-time on Saturday, Emma Patterson giving the visitors the lead in the second half before Sinéad Dooley levelled 10 minutes from the end. Sinéad Walsh scored the winning stroke to put Railway through.

Loreto prevailed 3-2 on strokes after a scoreless draw with Pembroke Wanderers and they meet Victorians in the last eight after the Ulster side beat Old Alexandra 2-0. Railway's next opponents will be Church of Ireland whose recent Australian recruit Michaela Mihailou helped them to a 3-1 defeat of Lisnagarvey.

Randalstown, who beat Ashton 6-0, will meet the winners of Belfast Harlequins and Pegasus, whose match was postponed on Saturday due to a flooded pitch. The tie of the next round, though, should be the meeting of Ballymoney and Hermes, a repeat of the 2005 final which Hermes won on strokes.

A double from Anna O'Flanagan sent Hermes on their way to a fine 5-0 defeat of Ards, but the performance of the round was from Ballymoney who beat Munster champions Cork Harlequins with an extra-time golden goal from Sally Stewart-Moore.