Railway make major headway

WOMEN'S HOCKEY:THERE COULD well be a few twists and turns in the title race yet, but on Saturday Railway Union took a giant stride towards regaining the Leinster Division One crown they lost to Hermes last season. Their 3-1 victory over second-placed Loreto gives them a four-point cushion at the top of the table, with just five games left to play.

It’s a gap that UCD, in third, can close to two points if they make use of their game in hand against Old Alexandra at Belfield tonight, but Railway are looking good, with just one of their remaining fixtures against a team from the top half of the table – fifth-placed Hermes.

They had the points all but secured on Saturday before the half hour mark, Loreto old-girl Zara Delaney giving them the lead after 15 minutes, with Jean McDonnell and Kate McKenna making it 3-0 before half-time. Jessica McGirr pulled a goal back for Loreto midway through the second half, but there was to be no repeat of the sides’ draw earlier this month, Railway’s only dropped points in their last 11 outings.

UCD got back to winning ways against bottom-of-the-table Three Rock on Saturday, three goals in each half giving them a comfortable afternoon at Grange Road. Alexandra leapfrogged Hermes to go fourth in the table thanks to the Emma Russell goal that settled the match between the teams at Milltown.

Glenanne’s 2-0 win over Pembroke saw them move five points clear of the bottom of the table, with Pembroke and Corinthian (who lost 1-0 to Trinity) four ahead of Three Rock.