ESB Women's Senior Cup
Can Hermes pull off the three-in-a-row?
Hermes remain on course to become the first club in 58 years to complete a three-in-a-row in the ESB Irish Senior Cup after reaching the semifinals of this season's competition with a hard fought 2-1 win over Munster champions Cork Harlequins.
But - and it's a big but - standing between the Dublin side and a place in the final will be their old rivals Pegasus, the Belfast club with whom they have vied for the tag of 'Ireland's leading team' for a decade.
Indeed 10 of the last 13 ESB Irish Senior Cup finals have featured either Hermes or Pegasus, with another two featuring both - Hermes won 3-2 in 1999, Pegasus 2- 1 in 2004. And, as further evidence of their domination of Irish hockey, between them they have won the last nine All-Ireland league titles. The second semi-final next month is another Ulster v Leinster pairing, with Ballymoney having home advantage against Pembroke Wanderers. It was Pembroke who last did the Cup three-in-a-row in 1949, making it a four-in-a-row a year later, but the club hasn't got its name on the trophy since 1975, a gap they will be desperate to bridge this year.
Like Pegasus, both Ballymoney and Pembroke cruised in to the semi-finals, all three teams winning by a five goal margin against Randalstown (5-0), Church of Ireland (5-0) and Lurgan (7-2), respectively.
Meanwhile, on the international front, the Irish under-16 and under- 18 teams played three matches against England at Belfield earlier this month, with the under-18s having the better week, beating the English in the first of their meetings. Armagh teenager Amy Stewart scored three goals in as many games and was rewarded for her form with a place in the senior Irish squad that plays a three match series against France in Paris next month.
Stewart is included in one of the most youthful ever Irish senior international squads, with coach Gene Muller opting to rest several of his more experienced players, including captain Linda Caulfield, as he gives the newcomers their chance in the build-up to August's European Championships.
Mary Hannigan
