Railway hope to stay on track

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Railway Union go in to Sunday's Coca Cola Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals at Grange Road as the rank outsiders of the four competing teams, but, while their chances of upsetting Loreto might be slim, they are hopeful that they can make the holders work hard for their place in the St Patrick's Day final when the new cup, the Jacqui Potter Memorial Trophy, will be presented for the first time.

When the teams met in the league in October Loreto ran out 9-0 winners, but Railway have improved significantly in the defensive department since then, as evidenced by their 2-0 defeat by Loreto at Beaufort last month and Wednesday night's game against Hermes when they held the champions scoreless until half-time before conceding three goals in the second half. "We've improved a lot since Christmas," said Railway coach Denise McCarthy. "Our schoolgirls (Loreto Abbey Dalkey's Beth Maguire, Kate Dillon and Emma Smyth) are coming good for us."

UCD will be the underdogs in the day's second semi-final when they take on a Hermes side in high spirits after their Irish Cup win over Pegasus. Hermes, though, haven't won the Leinster Cup since 1978 and face a UCD team determined to bounce back from their Irish Cup exit at the hands of Ballymoney. "It was very disappointing but we realise that we still have a lot to play for this season," said UCD's Irish international Ciara O'Brien. "Morale in the squad is as high as ever and everybody is relishing the chance of taking on Hermes."

After losing 2-0 on Wednesday to Corinthians (for whom January's Computershare 'Player of the Month' Kylie McEniery scored twice) Old Alexandra are desperately in need of a win against third-placed Pembroke Wanderers at Milltown tomorrow to revive their hopes of reaching the All-Ireland play-offs.

TOMORROW

IRISH JUNIOR CUP - Quarter-finals: Hermes II v Church of Ireland II, Belfield, 2.30; Loreto II v Three Rock, Beaufort, 3.30; Pegasus II v Aer Lingus, Queens, 1.0; Old Alexandra II v Pembroke Wanderers II, Milltown, 12.0 .

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Old Alexandra v Pembroke Wanderers, Milltown, 1.30; Glenanne v Loreto, Tallaght, 3.15.

MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Univ of Limerick v Waterford, Limerick, 1.0.

ULSTER SHIELD - Semi-finals: Ballymoney v Coleraine, Ballymena, 2.30; Ards v Pegasus, Ards Leisure Centre, 2.30.

ULSTER LEAGUE - Knock v Portadown, Queens, 2.30.

SUNDAY

LEINSTER SENIOR CUP - Semi-finals (at Grange Road): Railway Union v Loreto, 12.0; UCD v Hermes, 2.30.