Pegasus made to work hard

HOCKEY:Scoring 11 goals between them, without reply, Loreto and Railway Union cruised into the semi-finals of the ESB Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, the Leinster sides proving much too strong for Victorians and Church of Ireland. Holders Pegasus, though, were given a significantly more testing quarter-final by Randalstown before taking their place in the last four with a 3-2 victory.

Hermes, however, had a wasted trip north when a flooded pitch resulted in their tie against Ballymoney being postponed.

The match is unlikely to be re-fixed until after the Irish squad's trip to South Africa next month - the clubs have a player each on the senior panel - but with the semi-finals not taking place until March 8th there is plenty of time for the game to be played.

The three surviving quarter-finals saw the favourites prevail, but Randalstown - who lost 5-0 to Pegasus at the same stage of the competition last season - put up a gritty show against their hosts this time around.

Emma Clarke levelled the game after Arlene Boyles had put Pegasus a goal up from a short corner, and even when they went 3-1 down, Alex Speers and Suzanne Beaney scoring, Randalstown fought back again, Pamela Muir setting up a nervy end to the game for the Ulster champions.

Victorians reached the last eight of the competition by beating Old Alexandra but there were no match for Leinster champions Loreto on Saturday, Cathy McKean scoring twice to add to goals from Niamh Small, Sarah Scott, Nikki Symmons and Zara Delany.

Sinéad Dooley was the top individual scorer of the day, her hat-trick sending Railway on their way to a 5-0 defeat of Church of Ireland, with Jean McDonnell and former C of I player Cathy Kenefick completing the scoring.

The draw for the semi-finals will take place in January 5th.

IRISH SENIOR CUP: Quarter-finals: Ballymoney v Hermes, postponed; Loreto 6 (C McKean 2, N Small, S Scott, Z Delany, N Symmons) Victorians 0; Pegasus 3 (A Boyles, A Speers, S Beaney) Randalstown 2 (E Clarke, P Muir); Railway Union 5 (J McDonnell, S Dooley 3, C Kenefick) Church of Ireland 0.