Hermes put five past Pembroke

Hermes remain in front but it’s the severely-congested mid-table that’s garnering the most interest in the women’s EY Hockey League.

The Dubliners kept their seven-point lead intact by dismantling Pembroke 5-1, while Railway Union ended the recent resurgence of Pegasus with a Nina Heristerkamp goal moving them up to second after Ulster Elks’ clash with Greenfields and UCD’s visit to UCC fell victim to Storm Desmond.

Cork Harlequins superb 2-0 win at Ards ends a tough run of away games in style, a Rachel Hobbs counter-attack and Olivia Roycroft’s fifth of the campaign moving them joint fourth with Pembroke. They have three games in Cork next, which could be vital with just six points separating as many teams.

The men’s league has tightened up too with Lisnagarvey the new leaders after they saw off Annadale 3-1 and Monkstown fell to their first loss, a shock 3-2 reverse at home to Glenanne.

It means Cork Church of Ireland’s 4-3 loss to Three Rock Rovers doesn’t cut them adrift; they’ll be disappointed, though, given they led 2-1 going into the final quarter. John Jermyn’s third hat-trick of the season — all drag-flicks — wasn’t enough.

Elsewhere, C of I will fly the Munster flag in the men’s Irish Junior Cup; they saw off Bangor 4-2 but, Cork Harlequins lost 2-0 at South Antrim and Guy Sarratt’s drag-flick double helped Monkstown defeat Bandon 3-0.

UCC’s women’s Irish Junior Cup clash with Cork Harlequins fell foul of the weather, as did Blackrock’s Irish Hockey Challenge quarter-final against Clonmel.

Domestically, Alison Bourke’s winner ensured Limerick will stay in Division 1 for the second half of the season as they won by the odd goal in three in Waterford.