Ronan just too good for Loreto

CATHOLIC INSTITUTE threw a major spanner in the works in the race for semi-final spots in the women’s Irish Hockey League by stunning Loreto 2-1 at Rosbrien on Saturday.

Eimear Cregan’s tidy deflection put them ahead and Claire Sullivan converted a switched corner before they had to batten down the hatches and defend an onslaught from the heavily-fancied Dubliners.

Nikki Symmons did pull one back with five minutes to go but a string of top-class saves from Ciara Ronan kept Institute’s qualification hopes alive.