Pegasus II focus on Junior Cup hat-trick

Women's HockeyA shortage of umpires this weekend means the action is largely confined to the first round of the Irish Junior Cup in which Pegasus II, going for a three-in-a-row, will open the defence of their trophy away to Coleraine II. Coleraine will hope to fare a little better than their firsts last weekend - they lost 10-0 to Pegasus in the league.

Hermes II, who lost in last year's final to a single Pegasus goal, meet Aer Lingus at ALSAA in one of 15 first round ties.

Six more Leinster clubs - Loreto II, Old Alexandra II, Pembroke Wanderers II, Corinthian II, Genesis II and Trinity - were spared away trips, as were Enniscorthy, the 2001 winners, who are at home to Belvedere.

Kilkenny College will host two more ties involving south-east clubs: Wexford play Skerries at 12.30, followed by the game between Kilkenny and Glenanne (2.30). Munster's Church of Ireland drew the shortest straw of the round - they must trek north to Donegal to play Raphoe at the Royal and Prior school.

On the league front Railway Union moved to third in the Leinster first division table with a 2-0 win away to Corinthian on Wednesday night while Hermes beat UCD 4-2 in their Leinster Cup tie.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP - First round: Enniscorthy v Belvedere, Loreto Kilkenny, 1.0; Aer Lingus v Hermes II, ALSAA, 12.0; Loreto II v Greenfields, Beaufort, 2.30; Corinthian II v Ashton II, Whitechurch, 2.30; Old Alexandra II v Greenisland, Milltown, 1.30; Belfast Harlequins v UCD II, Deramore, 1.0; Raphoe v Cork Church of Ireland, Royal and Prior School, 12.30; Trinity v Banbridge, Santry, 3.0; Kilkenny v Glenanne, Kilkenny College, 2.30; Wexford v Skerries, Kilkenny College, 12.30; University of Limerick v Cork Harlequins II, Crescent College, 12.30; Genesis II v Carrickfergus, Belfield, 3.0; Kilkeel v Armagh, Kilkeel High School, 2.30; Coleraine II v Pegasus II, University of Ulster, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers II v UCC II, Serpentine Avenue, 2.0.

ULSTER LEAGUE - Section One: Pegasus v Randalstown, Queens, 2.30; Victorians v Ards, Olympic Leisure Centre, 2.30; Ballymena v Belfast Harlequins, Ballymena, 2.30; Coleraine v Omagh, UUC, 1.0.