Tension mounts on run-in to title

WOMEN'S HOCKEY / Round-up: Alex Ferguson once famously referred to a tense title run-in as "squeaky bum time", an unnerving experience, one would imagine, one that Hermes and Loreto coaches Rudi Wortmann and Siobhan Keogh will endure in the closing days of the Leinster first division season.

Hermes need just five points from their three remaining fixtures to be certain of regaining the title from Loreto, but their three opponents are top-six sides, Pembroke Wanderers (tomorrow), UCD (Monday) and Railway Union (Thursday - the final game of the season). There is, then, plenty of work to be done if the club is to complete the league and cup double.

All Loreto can do is win their final game, against Trinity tomorrow, and hope that Hermes do no better than match their total of 42 points - in which case Loreto would take the title on "games won".

Railway's 3-2 win over UCD on Wednesday night moved them up to third place and ended UCD's top-three hopes. While mathematically Railway still have the slimmest of chances of winning the league their more realistic target is to secure the top-three finish that would qualify them for the All-Ireland Club Championships - a win over Three Rock tomorrow would do just that. Pembroke and Old Alexandra aren't out of the top-three equation just yet, but both need to win their final games and for Railway to slip up.

There's no pressure on the bottom two, Trinity and Clontarf, as they go in to their final fixtures. Because the top two finishers in Division Two are second teams (Loreto II, the champions, and Old Alexandra II) there will be no promotion or relegation.

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Tomorrow - Division One: Corinthian v Clontarf, Whitechurch, 1.0; Loreto v Trinity, Beaufort, 1.30; Hermes v Pembroke Wanderers, Booterstown, 1.30; Old Alexandra v UCD, Milltown, 3.0; Railway Union v Three Rock, Sandymount, 3.45.

Division Two: Pembroke Wanderers II v Old Alexandra II, Ballsbridge, 11.0.

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP FINAL (at Garryduff) - Sunday: Cork Harlequins v Catholic Institute, 1.0.

MUNSTER PLATE FINAL (at Farmer's Cross) - Sunday: Church of Ireland v Bandon, 12.0.

ULSTER SHIELD FINAL (at Queens) - Tomorrow: Pegasus v Ballymoney, 1.0.

ULSTER LEAGUE - Tomorrow - Senior One: Belfast Harlequins v Victorians, Deramore, 2.30; Lisnagarvey v Randalstown, Hillsborough, 12.0.