WOMEN'S HOCKEY:As statements of intent go, UCD's 4-2 dismissal of Loreto showed that, when at full strength, the students look to be a cut above their title rivals.
Despite the absence of Nicola Gray, Jonathan Harte’s side were still able to start eight full internationals and had far too much in the tank for the table-toppers.
Nikki Evans buried an early opener only for Nikki Keegan’s penalty stroke to level matters at the break for Loreto who fielded former international Catherine Murray for the first time since her move from Glenanne.
Inspired by Jeamie Deacon, though, they cut loose in the second period. She and Anna O’Flanagan created the opening for Katie Mullan to get away from Jessie Elliott and Sinead McGirr to roll home.
O’Flanagan and Deacon duly extended the lead to 4-1 before Rachel Keegan got a late consolation.
Having dropped seven points from nine to without their international-tied star players at the start of the campaign, the result lifts UCD to within three points of the top rung.
Above them, Railway Union closed out a spell of four games in eight days unbeaten as they laboured to victory over basement-side Pembroke who pushed them the distance.
