Pegasus favourites to make last four

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THE CONTEST for places in the semi-finals of the Irish Hockey League intensifies this weekend with the penultimate round of pool matches; Pegasus, Loreto, UCD and Railway Union are currently the teams in the qualifying positions.

Pegasus, the only side to have won all three of their IHL games to date, are away to UCC, whose hopes of making progress in the competition were dented by a two-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier fixture.

With a two-point cushion over Loreto and their final game on Saturday week a home tie against bottom-of-the-pool Belfast Harlequins, Pegasus are firm favourites to go through to the last four.

Loreto and Hermes, who meet in their final pool game (also on Saturday week), are in second and third place, but Catholic Institute, on the verge of winning the Munster title, aren’t out of the qualifying equation. They play Loreto at home tomorrow and finish up against UCC, a team they have already beaten three times this season.

Pool B is an even tighter affair, with just one point separating the top three, UCD ahead of Railway Union and Armagh.

The students are away to Cork Harlequins, who they beat in the Irish Senior Cup last month, while Armagh host Railway.

FIXTURES – Irish Hockey League – Pool A – Tomorrow: Catholic Institute v Loreto, Rosbrien, 2.30. Sunday: UCC v Pegasus, The Mardyke, 1pm; Hermes v Belfast Harlequins, Belfield, 3pm. Pool B – Tomorrow: Armagh v Railway Union, Armagh, 2.45; Cork Harlequins v UCD, Farmers Cross, 3pm; Ards v Ballymoney, NICS, 6pm.