Pegasus move a step closer to three-in-a-row

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:PEGASUS MOVED a step closer to an ESB Irish Senior Cup three-in-a-row when they beat Ballymoney 2-1 in Saturday's semi-finals. Their opponents in next month's final will be UCD, who beat Ulster Elks by the same scoreline at Belfield, the students are now within 70 minutes of the university's first Irish Cup triumph since 1951.

The semi-finals followed similar patterns, the eventual victors taking early leads before going in 1-1 at half-time, sealing their places in the final with second-half winners.

Lisa Jacob gave UCD the advantage after just two minutes at Belfield but Lynsey Neish levelled for the Elks three minutes later, Rachel Burke scoring the winning goal eight minutes from time for the Mary Logue-coached team.

In Belfast Pegasus were a goal up through Logue’s former Irish team-mate Claire McMahon, the winger scoring on six minutes, but another former Irish captain, Lynsey McVicker, equalised almost immediately, with Julie McKnight getting the winning goal for the holders after the break.

Railway Union, meanwhile, moved ever closer to winning the Leinster first division title on Saturday, their 3-1 defeat of Bray, coupled with Loreto and Hermes’ 2-2 draw, now making them near certainties to take the crown. They are level on points with Loreto but have three games in hand – a win and a draw from their four remaining fixtures would seal the title.

And in Munster Cork Harlequins are within touching distance of their 14th consecutive league title after they put Church of Ireland out of the race with a 3-2 victory at Garryduff on Saturday.

Irish captain Eimear Cregan, back from injury and playing in her first game this year, got one of the goals that put Harlequins 3-0 up, before C of I’s late fightback.

Only UCC can now deny the champions – but they must beat Belvedere on Tuesday and then Harlequins in their final fixture, at which stage a play-off would be required to decided the title.

IRISH SENIOR CUP: Semi-finals: UCD 2 (L Jacob, R Burke), Ulster Elks 1 (L Neish); Pegasus 2 (C McMahon, J McKnight), Ballymoney 1 (L McVicker).

IRISH JUNIOR CUP: Semi-finals: Railway Union II 1 (K Clarke), Loreto II 0; Hermes II 2 (D Duke, C Devine), Old Alexandra II 1 (H Agar).

IRISH CHALLENGE FINAL: Fermoy 1 (T Fitzpatrick), YMCA 1 (H Keane). YMCA won 2-1 on penalty strokes.