Muckross remain champions

THEY gave it everything and more but in the end it was not enough for Loreto to snatch the title from defending champions Muckross at a packed Belfield hockey stadium last night.

Loreto needed a victory to win their first championship in 12 years but a 0-0 draw left them two points behind Muckross after the final fixture of the Leinster League season. They dominated for large stretches of the match, largely inspired by Mary Barnwell, but could not get the goal they needed.

Trish McHugh was outstanding at the back for the champions, who were without internationals Mary Logue and Clodagh Greeley as well as midfielder Deirdre Courtney, who injured her foot at work earlier in the week.

Ironically it was McHugh who came closest to scoring for Loreto when she almost deflected an Elaine Goddard cross past her own goalkeeper, Sandra O'Gorman, early in the second half.

Apart from that incident, O'Gorman and her Loreto opposite number, Avril Copeland, were rarely troubled during the match, with both teams failing to make use of their short corners.

Three players - Teresa Hurley, of Muckross, and Sarah O'Meara and Aoife Pomeroy of Loreto - were yellow-carded during a tense match, but under the circumstances, all three decisions seemed harsh.

Hurley was inspirational in midfield for Muckross, using all her experience in the closing frantic minutes of the match, and by full-time she had once again captained her team to a league title.