Defending champions Railway Union maintain perfect record

There is, as yet, no stopping Railway Union, the defending champions, UCD or Pegasus in the Irish Hockey League, all of whom made it 12 points out of 12 in round three of the pool phase of the competition on Saturday.

UCD registered their third successive clean sheet, while Pegasus completed a perfect week for the club, which began with them retaining their Ulster League title with a win over closest rivals Ards.

Mathematically, the 100 per centers can still be caught, Railway and/or UCD will at least drop points when they meet up in a fortnight, giving their chasers some hope, while Pegasus have still to play Ards (again) and Loreto, but all three remain firm favourites to reach the semi-finals.

UCD ran out 6-0 winners over Greenfields, the Connacht champions. Similarly, Railway took their time before seeing off Catholic Institute for a comfortable win over the Limerick side.

Hermes, meanwhile, saw their semi-final hopes ended by Lurgan, Kathryn Edgar getting the game's only goal to send the Leinster side bottom of pool A.