International stars, fresh off the plane from South Africa, will be rested meaning squad management is once again a battle for the weekend with Loreto short four stars while the students miss Chloe Watkins.

In her absence, Jeamie Deacon has taken on a powerful role while Deirdre Duke and Anna O’Flanagan make up a forward line with hunger in the circle, banging in 20 goals between them this term.

Loreto’s source of goals is more direct, their corner machine their go-to method should the Rathfarnham venue escape the frost which has caught hold a couple of times this season already.

Railway’s firepower is a big cause for concern for Glenanne, the Park Avenue hosts with an incredible seven of the province’s top 14 scorers, five of whom are available for the tie.

Dean Maguire’s side is a determined one with Susan Byrne aided by a gritty defence but taming the likes of Kate McKenna, Jean McDonnell and the emerging Kate Lloyd could be too tough an ask.

Trinity will be looking to back up their victory over Three Rock with three points at home to Pembroke on the Santry sand to go into next Tuesday’s colours festival in upbeat mood as well as close the gap on the top five.

They currently reside in a no-man’s land between the IHL places and five clear of the relegation battle leaving their season with latent potential for a fifth place push.

Goals are still the main missing element but Kylie Deverell is getting a taste and a secure defence controlled by Vera Taaffe and Jessie Elliott will give Pembroke problems. Rachel McKeon in midfield and youngsters Avril Dooley-O’Carroll and Olivia Smartt will be among those to lead their target of a slight upset.

Hermes have been most affected by international absentees and it played a part in Corinthian grabbing a point in the first league meeting earlier this term. Six still out leaves the reigning champions out of contention at the moment but valuable experience has been garnered by Sadhbh Hoban-Logan, Vicky Walsh and Laura Pinder in their high profile absences.

The reds, though, are in hot form and bullish about their chances after another big win last Sunday, besting Old Alex, with belief high they can rise again on Saturday.

Old Alex, meanwhile, waited until the very last touch of the game to beat Three Rock Ladies with Emma Russell striking late to dash the Grange Road side’s hopes.

The Irish Junior Cup has seven Leinster hopefuls vying for the crown with Hermes and Railway’s derby a highlight along with the local tussle between division two high-flyers Pembroke and UCD. Division three side Dublin Uni travel to Cork to play Bandon, former school of Trin player Jessica Kingston but the students have shown few nerves against higher division opposition as they showed in last year’s run.

Women’s Leinster Division One: Corinthian v Hermes, 2.30pm, St Columba’s College; Loreto v University College Dublin, 2.15pm, Beaufort; Old Alexandra v Three Rock Ladies, 3pm, Milltown; Railway Union v Glenanne, 2.45pm, Park Avenue; Trinity v Pembroke, 4.30pm, Santry
Division Two: Genesis v North Kildare, 2.30pm, Belfield

Women’s Irish Junior Cup, second round: Hermes v Railway Union, 1.30pm, St Andrews; Cork Harlequins v Loreto, 1pm, Harlequin Park; Ballymoney v Cork C of I, 1pm, Joey Dunlop Centre; Galway v Corinthian, 1pm, Dangan; Pembroke v UCD, 3.30pm, Serpentine Avenue; Dromore v Pegasus, 2.30pm, Ferris Park; Bandon v Dublin University, 1pm, Bandon GS; Randalstown v Catholic Institute, 1pm, Antrim Forum

Railway Union 2 (Zara Delany, Isobel Joyce) UCD 1 (Jeamie Deacon)
Railway Union swapped places with UCD as two corner goals from Emer Lucey assists turned the game on its head. Former Railway player Jeamie Deacon gave the Belfielders the perfect start in the third minute from a deflection routine after Grace O’Flanagan had initially saved. Zara Delany got the game back to 1-1 when she used an open-hand touch to guide home from Lucey’s hit and Isobel Joyce repeated the trick when she guided home with her reverse-stick with 15 minutes to go. The result puts the Park Avenue side two points clear, upping the ante for UCD’s back-match with Old Alex, needing a win to return to the summit.

Old Alex 4 (Erika Hinkson 2, Emma Russell, Sarah Canning) Glenanne 0
Old Alex showed a clinical nature to get the better of Glenanne at Milltown as they picked up a healthy, if slightly flattering, scoreline to maintain their push for an automatic IHL place. Erika Hinkson opened the scoring when she rebounded off the post before dragging home low for 2-0 – her seventh of the campaign. Sarah Canning hit in the third of the game before the break from another corner. Emma Russell completed the win in the second half. Glenanne created a number of decent chances, drawing Babs Luke into a couple of good saves in the first half but Alex had more control on the tie in the second. Alex featured Catriona Bailey-Price for the second time, the Australian U-21 arriving from the Canberra Lalor Club Strikers where she was coached by former Annadale man Ian McKeown.

Hermes 5 (Laura Pinder 2, Caitriona McGilp, Vicky Walsh, Christine Quinlan) Pembroke 0
Hermes cut loose in the second half of their tie with Pembroke to get their second win of the week over the Serpentine Avenue side. Laura Pinder nabbed two, in the process becoming the 17^th different Hermes goalscorer this term as well as the 100^th different goalscorer in Leinster women’s senior hockey this term. It was 1-0 at half-time before Hermes notched up the goals in the second period. (Click here to see Deryck Vincent’s video of the second goal)

Loreto vs Corinthian – postponed due to a frozen pitch

Jacqui Potter Cup, quarter-finals
Corinthian set up a semi-final day-out as a goal in each half saw them overcome Old Alex as they dealt better with the downpour which left Whitechurch Park slow and tough to play on. Sally Cory’s good ball forward found Georgina Fagan through to slide home the opening goal. Lyndsey Watson notched the second as she got a touch to Argentine Valentina Galmozzi’s cross to complete another formative win.

UCD, meanwhile, were made to work hard for victory over Railway Union seconds. Cecelia Joyce’s classy opening goal had Railway in the lead and they held on until the break. Deirdre Duke, though, powered through to level before Anna O’Flanagan grabbed a couple with Joyce getting her second in the closing stages.

Railway’s first team, however, fared better as they cruised to an 8-0 win over Genesis with Jean McDonnell bringing her seasonal tally to 19, six clear of her nearest rival in these standings, with a hat-trick while Kate Lloyd also netted three times.

They join Hermes, 3-0 winners over Pembroke seven days ago with Jenny Burke, Eimear Horan and Rachel Burke on target.

Clontarf, meanwhile, are the last Leinster side standing in the Irish Hockey Trophy as they got the better of North Kildare on penalty strokes as YMCA and Naas bowed out.

Jacqui Potter Cup, quarter-final results: Corinthian 2 (Georgina Fagan, Lyndsey Watson) Old Alex 0; Railway Union 8 (Jean McDonnell 3, Kate Lloyd 3, Julia O’Halloran, Emer Lucey) Genesis 0; Railway Union 2 (Cecelia Joyce 2) UCD 3 (Deirdre Duke, Anna O’Flanagan 2)

Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round three: Omagh v Portadown, postponed; Greenfields 1 (Alma Whelan) Ashton 1 (Caroline McCarthy, Greenfields won 4-2 on penalties; Galway 3 (Louise Conlon, Tara Melvin, Lynsey Trainor) Victorians 1 (Rachel McMillan); Bandon 5 (Ciara McCarthy 4, Louise O’Flynn) YMCA 1 (Sarah Bradshaw); Naas 0 Wexford 3 (Lisa Codd, Deirdre Bolger, Ciara O’Leary); North Kildare 1 (Jen Keating) Clontarf 1 (Shelly Spillane), Clontarf won 4-3 on penalties; NICS 0 Larne 0, NICS won 5-4 on penalties; Ballymena v Dromore, postponed

The draw for the fourth round will be made on Monday, January 30 at 10.30am in the Irish Hockey Offices

The numbers game in South Africa leaves the Park Avenue hosts down in the overall tally as Alex Speers, Emma Smyth and Nikki Evans while Chloe Watkins is UCD’s one absentee.

Plenty of international talent remains, though, as Railway can call on Jean McDonnell’s aggression up front with Julia O’Halloran pulling the strings while Niamh Atcheler and Anna O’Flanagan are in harness for the students. A winner on the day is guaranteed to top the table on Saturday evening but Railway, with a game extra played, have the more pressing need for points at this stage.

Kate Lloyd has been in scintillating form for the yellow and greens in recent times and will need to be shackled.
Lying in wait are Loreto as they host Corinthian and have a dilemma over goalkeeper selection following Ruth Murphy’s impressive showing against Railway last week.

She vyes with Mary Harkin to fill in for Louisa Healy at the base of a defence who have provided a wealth of goals for the Beaufort club. Sarah Clarke’s thunderous corner hits have seen her top score with Johannesburg-bound Nicci Daly while Hannah Matthews and Rachel Keegan have also weighed in for the league’s most potent corner routine.

But the reds will be keen to nab a result in this Rathfarnham derby, pushing Loreto all the way earlier this term in a 4-3 result. Corinthian are a much improved outfit this term with a growing number of youngsters coming through to make them tough to beat.

Their win over Glenanne last week lifted them to seventh, a place above Pembroke who bounced back against Three Rock Ladies with a well-judged 2-0 win over their vanquishers of five days earlier. Emma Kielthy and Rachel McGrath got the goals in midweek at Grange Road for a powerful comeback to Saturday’s setback which briefly placed them at the bottom of the table.

Hermes is a tough place to go for a third game in seven days in spite of six international absentees as top performers like Mary Goode, Jenny Burke, Christine Quinlan and Sinead Connery power them on.

Three Rock face Trinity hoping them can get back off the bottom, possibly using one of the youngest midfields around as Clare Samuel joined Wesley schoolmate Lauren Haughton and Ana Fabra.

The students are in the rare position of the experience differential being in their favour with Rachel Scott and Maebh Horan high level performers in this division but with just eight goals between the sides this term in total, expect a tight battle.

Old Alex, meanwhile, will hope to keep a comfortable grasp on their top five position, facing a Glenanne side who were frustrated by Corinthian last week.

The Irish Hockey Trophy begins to reach the business end, too, this Saturday with four Leinster sides contesting the last 16 stage. After a number of successful years in the Irish Hockey Challenge, YMCA are aiming to be the first side to clock up wins in both of the two recently introduced competitions.

Travelling to Bandon is a tough ask, though, a side riding high in Munster’s division one. Leinster’s highest ranked side is North Kildare and they have a division to spare over Clontarf for their tie at Kilcock.

Naas, meanwhile, make it two ties in Kildare with their hosting of Wexford – the South East’s last remaining side. Elsewhere, the competition has mainly an Ulster feel to it with seven entrants left with two from Munster and Connacht.

Women’s Division One: Railway Union v UCD, 1pm, Park Avenue; Loreto v Corinthian, 1pm, Beaufort; Hermes v Pembroke, 3.15pm, St Andrew’s; TRL v Trinity, 3.15pm, Grange Road; Old Alexandra v Glenanne, 4pm, Milltown
Division Two: Pembroke v Railway Union, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Hermes v Newbridge, 1.15pm, St Andrew’s; Genesis v UCD, 2.30pm, Belfield; Corinthian v Loreto, 3.30pm, Whitechurch

Electric Ireland Women’s Irish Hockey Trophy, round three: Omagh v Portadown, 2.30pm, Campsie Omagh; Greenfields v Ashton, 3pm, Dangan; Galway v Victorians, 1pm, Dangan; Bandon v YMCA, 1pm, Bandon GS; Naas v Wexford, 3.45pm, Caragh Road; North Kildare v Clontarf, 1.30pm, The Maws; NICS v Larne, 1pm, Maynard Sinclair Pavillion Stormont; Ballymena v Dromore, 2.30pm, Ballymena Showground

Hermes 1 (Jenny Burke) Loreto 2 (Rachel Keegan, Ali Meeke)
Ali Meeke proved the game-winner for Loreto as they snagged three points which looks to formally end Hermes’ hopes of claiming the title as she clipped home a second half corner at St Andrew’s. Rachel Keegan had put the Beaufort club into the lead inside five minutes when her initial corner push-out went slightly off course to Meeke. But she struck well and Keegan nipped in to deflect into the roof of the net. Jenny Burke levelled following Gillian Pinder’s sweet piece of skill and excellent ball forward from half-way to open up the visiting defence and the subsequent lay-up found Burke who finished on her reverse for 1-1 at the break. Hermes did earn five corners but Loreto looked more dangerous from play and moved into the lead when another corner found its way to Meeke who hit home. Loreto’s plight to maintain the slender advantage was helped by Sinead Connery’s sin-binning and the three points keeps them in touch with UCD and Railway while Hermes are now nine points off the pace.

Old Alexandra 1 (Emma Russell) Railway Union 2 (Sinead Dooley 2)
A deflected effort 20 seconds from time saw Railway Union keep pace at the top of the division as Sinead Dooley’s deflected effort saw them get out of jail against Old Alex. The Milltown hosts went in front a mere 12 seconds into the second period as Alex worked the ball forward straight from the tip off with Erika Hinkson’s touch playing in Emma Russell who won the foot-race to the ball before the Railway goalkeeper and scored. Dooley put her side in level with a neat touch by her right foot to Kate Lloyd’s cross. Hinkson, Roisin Flinn and Emily Beatty all had chances on the counter while the visitors bossed regular play and had five corners to their name. From the fifth, Dooley shot to the far post with Cecelia Joyce waiting but a defender’s stick got a touch to give Pam Smithwick little chance to readjust to see Railway keep in touch.

Pembroke Wanderers 1 (Ciara Howard) Three Rock Ladies 2 (Anna Carson, Suzanne Mellon)
Suzanne Mellon’s sweetly swept effort handed Three Rock Ladies their first win since returning to division one to make it incredibly tight at the bottom of the table as TRL moved ahead of Pembroke on goal difference. A dramatic tie, Pembroke thought they had the lead when Rachel McKeon scrambled in a corner rebound in the first half but it was ruled out after consultation between the umpires. Anna Carson put her side in front when Mellon ran clear down the left-wing and her flip over Lisa O’Rourke caught the top of the keeper’s pads and fell invitingly for Carson to tap home.

The hosts, though, won a string of second half corners and were level from a corner which again went to consultation as injector Ciara Howard took in a thigh-high shot and nudged home for the equaliser with 14 minutes to go. But the killer goal came moments later as Sarah-Ann O’Connor beat a player to set up a three-on-one which was slipped to Mellon to hit home first time. Pembroke piled forward, winning a series of late corners but none were converted to hand TRL a vital set of three points. They handed debuts to Clare Samuel and Meabh Holden, too.

Trinity College 0 University College Dublin 3 (Rachel O’Reilly, Anna O’Flanagan, Dora Gorman)
UCD scrapped their way to three more points at Santry, starting off a chain of five away wins in women’s division one and maintain their title charge. Rachel O’Reilly got the first when she got a touch to Nicola Gray smashed corner shot. Anna O’Flanagan got the second, latching onto Niamh Atcheler’s superb overhead ball before Dora Gorman completed the victory. For College, Laura Wilson was a stand-out performer but took a blow to the toe which may need further inspection.

Loreto were thankful to stand-in goalkeeper Ruth Murphy in the final reckoning, the regular third teamer filling in for the international-tied Louisa Healy and the unavailable Mary Harkin. She and Clarke kept out two corners after the final whistle to hold onto a point as well as picking off a decent late save to deny Jean McDonnell.

In the first half, Lloyd finished off the first goal of the game with a nicely clipped reverse but a penalty stroke was conceded within two minutes which Hannah Matthews converted for her fourth goal of the campaign.

The second period followed a similar pattern despite the hosts enjoying more of the possession. Railway, as is their wont, were sharp on the break and were back in front when McDonnell picked up a loose ball and tore into the circle. She feigned to shoot before squaring for Lloyd to put her side back in front going into the closing quarter.

But Niamh Small jagged back inside to win a corner in the next wave of play and Clarke applied a thunderous strike. With Matthews, the two defenders have now provided 11 goals between them showing the value of their set piece routines.

Railway went closest to winning it as both sides were down to ten players for breaking down play; Zara Delany just missed out on the back post while McDonnell’s corner hits were denied. It leaves them a point off UCD who now have a game in hand while Loreto are one further back.

Of the three main contenders, the students appear to be the ones most likely to push on after the weekend, too, as they face colours rivals early on Saturday in Santry. They must do it without Chloe Watkins but Niamh Atcheler is available for selection for the game as she has been rested for the national team’s South Africa trip.

Railway and Loreto, though, have tough battles ahead as they play Old Alex and Hermes away, respectively. Attack-wise, the Park Avenue outfit’s forward line will be blunted by the absence of Nikki Evans and Alex Speers and the creative drive of Emma Smyth for much of the remainder of this campaign.

Alex have to cope without netminder Pam Smithwick and midfield firebrand Shirley McCay while Loreto are shy a quartet of players – including a fit-again Nikki Symmons.

But it is Hermes who are most affected as six of their number travel out to Johannesburg on Sunday. Mary Goode will cover goalkeeping duties while a number of their youngsters will likely be added to a panel short Miriam Crowley, Lisa Jacob, Aine Connery, Sinead McCarthy and Audrey O’Flynn.

At the bottom, there are also two vital games. Three Rock travel to Pembroke in a make or break tie between the basement pair with the visitors needing a win to move level on four points.

It is one of two meetings between the sides in quick succession – the next coming next Wednesday night – which could go a long way to defining their respective seasons. Corinthian and Glenanne, meanwhile, will be looking for points to pull themselves further away from impending danger.

On the men’s side, Pembroke started the New Year’s action with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Weston at Serpentine Avenue to knock out the last remaining division two side from the Mills Cup.

Alan Sothern snagged a hat-trick while Mick O’Connor got two to build a 6-0 half-time lead. Rob Lynch finished off a two-on-two attack to pull one back and win the second half for Weston – his tenth goal of the campaign.

All the rest of the Mills’ ties have also been brought forward from their initial Sunday date to Saturday. Monkstown against YMCA is the pick of the bunch at 1.30pm in Rathdown while Corinthian face Glenanne and UCD host a Three Rock side with a few players set to return.

The students will miss Shane O’Donoghue and possibly Conor Motyer while Rovers will need to find an alternative scoring source than Peter Blakeney. Alan Bothwell returns from suspension while Ali Haughton and Peter McConnell eased back over Christmas through the indoor campaign.

The Town are the side most affected by the international trip to Spain with goalkeeper Dave Fitzgerald unavailable along with David Cole and attacking linchpin Gareth Watkins. With Iain Walker unable to tend the goal, YM have top back-up in the form of Graham Woods.

Division two sees Avoca, Portrane and Trinity all make their first appearances of 2012 as the race hots up considerably for the title.

Mills Cup, round two result: Pembroke 6 (Alan Sothern 3, Mick O’Connor 2, Scott Furlong) Weston 1 (Rob Lynch)
Fixtures, Saturday: UCD v Three Rock Rovers, 1pm, Belfield; Corinthian v Glenanne, 1pm, Whitechurch Park’ Monkstown v YMCA, 1.30pm, Rathdown
Men’s Leinster Division Two: Avoca v Portrane, 2pm, Newpark; Suttonians v Dublin University, 2pm, Sutton Park; Mullingar v Rathgar, 2pm, Tullamore Harriers’ pitch

Women’s Leinster Division One, result: Loreto 2 (Hannah Matthews, Sarah Clarke) Railway Union 2 (Kate Lloyd 2)
Fixtures, Saturday: Trinity v UCD, 11.15am, Santry; Hermes v Loreto, 1.30pm, St Andrew’s; Old Alexandra v Railway Union, 3pm, Milltown; Glenanne v Corinthian, 3pm, St Mark’s; Pembroke v Three Rock Ladies, 3.30pm, Serpentine Ave
Division Two: Pembroke v Newbridge, 12.30pm, Serpentine Ave; Loreto v North Kildare, 12.45pm, Beaufort; Hermes v Genesis, 3.15pm, St Andrew’s; Corinthian v Railway Union, 3.45pm, Whitechurch Park; UCD v Old Alexandra, 4.15pm, Belfield

The former UCD player flicked through a crowd of defenders from a corner on the hooter to bag her second of the game and the crucial moment in a tight final against Hermes.

It was the first time they had led, falling behind just before half-time as Caitriona McGilp applied a delicate finish to Kerry McComish’s excellent pass from the back. But the lead lasted just four minutes as Bennett fired home from her side’s first corner of the second half to put the game in the melting pot once more.

Orla Patton re-established the advantage in the 26th minute but youth Olympian Chloe Brown’s sharp effort levelled once more with eight minutes remaining. Naomi Elliott played in a quick pass to the top of the circle where Brown – playing with heavy bandaging on her head after a semi-final ball struck her – smoothly controlled and flicked high past former Irish keeper Mary Goode.

Tit for tat throughout most of extra-time, Ards nabbed a corner 35 seconds from half-time and they ran out the clock before pushing to the top for Bennett to zip home the winner.

They take over the mantle as national champions from Armagh, a side they eliminated in the Ulster group phase by just a couple of goals scored after points and goal difference separated the pair.

Saturday’s playoff group also could have seen them knocked out were it not for their closing 2-0 win over Old Alex having lost to Hermes 3-1. But they rolled with the punches despite a small panel of eight to annex the crown and a place in Europe in the spring of 2013.

It emulated the success of the 1990 vintage who got the better of Randalstown 3-2 at the Valley Leisure Centre having previosuly overcome Knock and Pembroke en route to the final.

Ards: Naomi McKnight, Lynn Mills, Caroline Adams, Heather McClurg, Naomi Elliott, Katy Bennett, Janice Vaughan, Chloe Brown
Hermes: Mary Goode, Fiona Connery, Orla Patton, Sarah Patton, Kerry McComish, Eimear Horan, Sadhbh Hoban-Logan, Caitriona McGilp, Sara Twomey
Umpires: Tara Browne, Christine Reid

** For more videos from the final, check out Tristan Seaton-Stedham’s youtube channel

Drawn in a pool featuring an unbeaten Clontarf and Cookstown, something has to give between the three sides fighting for two places in Sunday’s semi-finals and subsequent final.

Outdoor international commitments have curtailed Peter Blakeney’s involvement in the competition, necessitating the guesting of Phelie Maguire into the forward line last weekend and greater efficiency at corner time will be the major concern.

None were converted in last weekend’s three wins, offering Clontarf’s tight defensive play an opportunity. Their side has a heavy Australian influence with James Gurbiel and Maverick Yow effective up front while guest Dan Scott at the back – regularly working with Gareth Borland – has been a strong addition.

Tom Doran is also back for a second year helping out while John Smith has plenty of ideas in the coaching role from his time in Germany.

The great unknown is the quality of the Ulster sides and how quickly they have adapted to the game. Cookstown won the Ulster section of the competition under the tutelage of David Ames who has been part of Beeston’s Super Sixes side in the English indoor championships.

He oversaw his home club’s success last week in which Timmy Smyth, Greg Allen and Gareth Cuddy scored the goals to power them to four straight wins.

Ames said of his side’s performance: “I play a lot of indoor in England and was delighted to be able to help the club out. With the exception of Gareth Cuddy none of the boys had indoor experience but I knew that they would be suited to the game. Mark Crooks was my stand out player of the weekend, he is an intelligent player who grasped the indoor tactics with ease.

“We had an excellent foundation to build on with Mark and Timmy Smyth as our platform. Michael Anderson had a superb weekend showing how good a signing the club have made in the schoolboy keeper. “

NICS came second in the group, dramatically going through on goal difference ahead of Instonians and Annadale and will take their place in Group B with Railway and Pembroke.

Pembroke welcomed back Alan Sothern to superb effect last weekend to secure their place in the final four with four goals in the 4-3 win over Glenanne.

Ronan Gormley played a part in the early phases but international commitments rule him out this weekend but they have guest Nick Burns – he missed last week due to another guest role, this time with Monkstown in Spain – available for selection.

Other than that, coach Simon Filgas has been using a very young side with David Kane, Eric Foy, George Dagg and Alex Service among their regular panel along with the more experienced David Williamson and Mick O’Connor.

Railway Union are aiming to bridge a five-year gap to win back the cup and look a decent bet to get through their group. Kenny Carroll is one of Ireland’s top proponents of the short form of the game and doubles as coach, aided by Paul O’Brien’s extensive knowledge, lining out once more.

Regularly lying deep and countering, Eoin MacArthur in the pivot position along with Mark English’s long passes from left back have been key elements in creating chances for Rob Abbott. Monkstown’s Darren Farrell guests.

It will be a busy weekend for Carroll who is also coaching the Railway Union women’s side who emerged as one of the clear favourites having won all of their games to date, including a 7-1 victory over other qualifiers Old Alex.

Silja Dornow’s skills and Kate Dillon’s power and hunger for goal offers plenty while the starting back two of Emer Lucey and Holly Jenkinson and goalkeeper Rachel Barnett are an assured trio. Their initial pool sees them face Glenanne who impressed on the first weekend of the competition with three big wins before losing their sole game of the second weekend having already qualified for the playoffs.

Ulster Elks helped eliminate reigning champions Armagh with Kristie Lammey and Alice Garrad among their key players and they make up the three team pool.

Group A has four sides contesting for two semi-final places with Galway the most recent winners. They overcame Greenfields in a three-game series to reach this phase and, with their young team of 2009 maturing, they could cause problems.

Sarah Canning is the Old Alex lynch-pin at the back while Hermes have used youth and experience with Jenny Burke guiding schoolgirls Sadhbh Hoban-Logan and Sarah Patton. Ards are the northern representative and feature former UCD player Katy Bennett.

Outdoors, meanwhile, YMCA face Glenanne in a crucial tie for both sides title ambitions with any loss leaving them well off the pace. YM enter the tie without the tough-tackling Allan Dale while the Glens are minus Joe Brennan who is on the recovery trail after surgery. Filip Jaros continued to be out, too.

Division two also gets back into action as Rathgar face Suttonians with three points for the latter earning them a share of top spot. Weston play Mullingar in the day’s other tie looking to continue their run of four successive, single-goal victories.

On Thursday night, Milltown played host to the battle of Alex in the Jacqui Potter Cup with the first team beating the seconds 5-0 with goals from Irish internationals Roisin Flinn and Shirley McCay as well as strikes from Emily Beatty, Nicky Keogh and Becca Coll. They now face Corinthian in the quarter-finals, set for January 29.

Indoor

Men’s finals weekend fixtures (all at Gormanston College)
Group A (Saturday): Three Rock Rovers v Clontarf, 10.30am; Clontarf v Cookstown, 12.10pm; Cookstown v Three Rock Rovers, 2.40pm
Group B (Saturday): NICS v Pembroke Wanderers, 11.20am; Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, 1pm; Railway Union v NICS, 4.20pm

Semi Finals (Sunday, National Basketball Arena): Winner Group A v Runner Up Group B, 11am; Winner Group B v Runner Up Group A, 1pm
Final: 3pm

Women’s finals
Group A (Loughlinstown): Galway v Ards, 1.15pm; Old Alex v Hermes, 2.10pm; Old Alex v Galway, 3.05pm; Ards v Hermes, 4pm; Galway v Hermes, 4.55pm; Ards v Old Alex, 5.50pm
Group B (Gormanston, Co. Meath): Ulster Elks v Glenanne, 1.50pm; Glenanne v Railway Union, 3.30pm; Railway Union v Ulster Elks, 5.10pm

Semi Finals (Sunday, National Basketball Arena): Winner Group A v Runner Up Group B, 12pm; Winner Group B v Runner Up Group A, 2pm
Final: 4pm

Outdoor (Saturday, January 14)
Men’s Leinster Division One: Glenanne vs YMCA, 3pm, Glenanne Park
Division Two: Rathgar vs Suttonians, 2pm, High School; Weston vs Mullingar, 2pm, Griffeen Valley

They will be joined by Cookstown who topped the Ulster pool while NICS’ goal difference saw them through as runners-up on goal difference after a three-way tie on points with Instonians and Annadale.

It completes the finals line-up – with Clontarf and Three Rock qualifying on Saturday afternoon – with two, three-team groups facing off next Saturday in Gormanston, hosting indoor hockey for the first time.

Pembroke were the first side to confirm their progression as they came from a goal behind to lead 4-2 going into the closing stage of the tie with Sothern shining in his first appearance in the competition this season.

Shane O’Donoghue’s second closed the gap going into the closing phases but Pembroke held on for the win to go with earlier successes against Corinthian and Fingal to push on.

Railway needed just a draw to advance from group two and looked well set when Kenny Carroll and Eoin MacArthur put them 2-0 up on YMCA. But YM rallied with Stephen and Andrew Walker to put the game on a knife-edge at 2-2 going into the latter stages.

Rob Abbott, though, finished off a slick left-wing move with a near post touch to put Railway back in front and, despite MacArthur’s sin-binning, the 2011 finalists were unable to get the goals required to make it back to the playoffs.

TRR closed out the group stages with a 3-1 win over Fingal to make it five wins from five, the ALSAA side matching Rovers well in the first half but were caught early in the second as Garry Ringwood broke the deadlock before Ross Canning and Jody Hosking made the game safe.

In Ulster, Cookstown completed the group phases with a perfect record with a 4-3 win over NICS and a 3-0 success over Mossley. Service were in decent shape after day one two single goal losses – the second coming against Instonians – left them in danger of elimination.

A draw for Inst against Annadale in the group’s final game would have been enough to eliminate NICS but Dale popped up with a 3-2 win to put the Stormont club through by two goals on goal difference.

On the women’s side, Railway Union emerged from the pack with three successive victories in group one to advance. They started the day with an impressive 7-1 win over runners-up Old Alex with Kate Dillon doing most of the goalscoring while German player Silja Dornow’s slick skills and indoor know-how was a cut above.

The 2010 champions were pushed all the way by a Trinity side who needed to win to keep alive their chances but Railway nabbed a 4-3 victory after being level 1-1 at the break. With Alex edging past Trinity 3-2 on Saturday, it meant the Milltown club and Railway were through, leaving a couple of dead rubbers.

Pembroke finished strong with a couple of wins to get off the mark while Railway’s 7-1 win over Genesis confirmed their place at the top of the table.

Newbridge’s withdrawal from the competition meant Glenanne were all but through, making it 12 points from four games and Hermes followed them onto that mark with an emphatic 10-2 success against Corinthian. It left the pair to face each other for top spot and Hermes prevailed 3-2.

In Connacht, 2009 finalists Galway recorded two wins and a draw against Greenfields to be their provincial representative at the finals and will face Ards, Old Alex and Hermes next week. Railway, Ulster Elks and Glenanne are in the other group.

Leinster Men’s (all at Loughlinstown Lesiure Centre)
Men’s Indoor, Group One: Pembroke 4 (Alan Sothern 4) Glenanne 3 (Shane O’Donoghue 2, Gary Shaw); TRR 3 (Garry Ringwood, Jody Hosking, Ross Canning) Fingal 1 (Luke Hayden)
Standings: 1. TRR 15pts (+20) 2. Pembroke 12pts (+16) 3. Glenanne 7pts (+3) 4. Corinthian 5pts (8) 5. Fingal 4pts (-7) 6. Weston 0pts (-25)

Group Two: YMCA 2 (Stephen Walker, Andrew Walker) Railway Union 3 (Kenny Carroll, Eoin MacArthur, Rob Abbott)

Standings: 1. Railway 10pts (+9) 2. Clontarf 10pts (+7) 3. YMCA 6pts (+5) 4. Suttonians 3pts (-1) 5. Dublin University 0pts (-20)

Ulster Men’s results:

Sunday results: NICS 3 Cookstown 4; Annadale 5 Mossley 3; NICS 1 Instonians 2; Mossley 0 Cookstown 3; Annadale 3 Instonians 2

Standings: 1. Cookstown 12pts (+6) 2. NICS 6pts (+5) 3. Instonians 6pts (+2) 4. Annadale 6pts (-2) 5. Mossley 0pts (-9)

Men’s finals weekend fixtures (all at Gormaston College)

Group A: Three Rock Rovers v Clontarf, 10.30am; Clontarf v Cookstown, 12.10pm; Cookstown v Three Rock Rovers, 2.40pm

Group B: NICS v Pembroke Wanderers, 11.20am; Pembroke Wanderers v Railway Union, 1pm; Railway Union v NICS, 4.20pm

Leinster women’s Group One: Old Alex 1 Railway Union 7; Trinity 3 Pembroke 4; Trinity 3 Railway Union 4; Pembroke 4 Genesis 2; Trinity 2 Old Alex 3; Genesis 1 Railway 7

Standings: 1. Railway 12pts (+22) 2. Old Alex 9pts (+6) 3. Pembroke 6pts (-10) 4. Trinity 3pts (-1) 5. Genesis 0pts (-17)

Group Two: Newbridge 0 Glenanne 5 (w/o); Corinthian 4 Clontarf 2; Hermes 3 Glenanne 2; Newbridge 0 Avoca 5 (w/o); Hermes 10 Corinthian 2; Avoca 6 Clontarf 3

Standings: 1. Hermes 15pts (+19) 2. Glenanne 12pts (+12) 3. Clontarf 6pts (-4) 4. Avoca 6pts (-6) 5. Corinthian 6pts (-9) 6. Newbridge 0pts (-25)

Group Three: Greenfields 1 Galway 3; Galway 1 Greenfields 1; Galway 6 Greenfields 1

Group A (Loughlinstown): Galway v Ards, 1.15pm; Old Alex v Hermes, 2.10pm; Old Alex v Galway, 3.05pm; Ards v Hermes, 4pm; Galway v Hermes, 4.55pm; Ards v Old Alex, 5.50pm
Group B (Gormanston, Co. Meath): Ulster Elks v Glenanne, 1.50pm; Glenanne v Railway Union, 3.30pm; Railway Union v Ulster Elks, 5.10pm

Women’s Leinster Division Two: Railway Union 2 (Kate Lloyd, Kate McKenna) Loreto 0; North Kildare 3 (Michelle Spillane 2, Aideen Griffin) UCD 1; Newbridge 4 (Clara Brody, Jane Tynan, Pam Ryan, Jill Ennis) Corinthian 2 (Sally Cory 2); Pembroke 3 (Louise Tolerton, Sorcha Conway, Joanne McDonnell) Genesis 0

Eight of those places will come from Leinster with plenty of intrigue still to be played out in the four groups, starting from game one in Loughlinstown. There, Clontarf and Railway Union’s perfect records will be put to the test (11am) with a winner all but confirming their place in the finals weekend.

Railway are on a high after their Neville Cup victory but there initial indoor entry gave few hints as to Kenny Carroll’s side’s form this time around. They were handed a 5-0 victory due to Dublin Uni’s suspension and, with little at stake, they experimented without a goalkeeper at times to record a 5-4 friendly victory against the students.

A 5-2 win over Suttonians followed in their first competitive match but Clontarf look to be their first major test with Maverick Yow and James Gurbiel making for a lively, Anitpodean-inspired front-line while fellow Aussie Dan Scott could add to their strike-power.

Railway, meanwhile, will be without Donal O’Mearain, indoor and outdoor, for the rest of the season as his studies have taken him to Singapore. YMCA are the side lying in wait for the second play-off place from group two, completing their group stage with one game this weekend against Railway on Sunday while Suttonians are out of the running.

In group one, Three Rock have the sole perfect record but have played just twice and their fate will be decided in a three-hour period as they face two big games in quick succession. First is top of the table clash with Glenanne at midday before meeting Corinthian at 2pm. They do so without Peter McConnell who has returned from injury but is now exam-tied.

The Glens cannot call on the injured pair of Filip Jaros and Joe Brennan – who underwent surgery just before Christmas – but were more than handy on the first weekend of play with two wins and a loss.

Corinthian have an outside chance of progression but must win their tie with Three Rock and hope for favours elsewhere. Pembroke, meanwhile, currently lie in second place and a win over Weston on Saturday could set up a major showdown with the Glens for a final six place.

Ulster’s group also tips off this weekend with Irish Senior Cup holders Cookstown getting some tips from Beeston indoor player David Ames in recent times in their return to the competition. Annadale, Instonians, NICS and Mossley compete with them for two playoff places.

On the women’s side, in group two, Glenanne and Hermes look virtually home and hosed following three wins a piece on the first weekend of competition, the former running up an emphatic plus 22 goal difference. The pair meet on Sunday in their respective final group game but will likely be confirmed in the finals weekend by that stage.

Group One, though, is very much up for grabs with Old Alex, Railway and Trinity all with 100pc records and their encounters with each other in Greystones this weekend will decide their fate.

It means the proposed Leinster league date between Alex and UCD is pushed back but there are four division two games outdoors to start the New Year with Pembroke aiming to keep their place at the top division with a date with Genesis.

Leinster Men’s (all at Loughlinstown Lesiure Centre)

Men’s Group One standings (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 7pts (+10) 2. Pembroke (3) 6pts (+11) 3. TRR (2) 6pts (+7) 4. Corinthian (4) 5pts (0) 5. Fingal (3) 1pt (-10) 6. Weston (3) 0pts (-17)

Group Two: 1. Clontarf (3) 9pts (+7) 2. Railway (2) 6pts (+8) 3. YMCA (3) 6pts (+6) 4. Suttonians (3) 3pts (+1) 5. Dublin University (4) 0pts (-20)

Saturday fixtures: Clontarf v Railway Union, 10am; Pembroke v Weston, 11am; Glenanne v TRR, 12pm; Fingal v Weston, 1pm; Corinthian v TRR, 2pm; Suttonians v Dublin Uni, 3pm

Sunday: Glenanne v Pembroke, 12pm; YMCA v Railway, 1pm; Fingal v TRR, 2pm

Ulster men’s (Lagan Valley Leaisure Centre)

Saturday: Instonians v Mossley, 10am; Annadale v Cookstown, 11am; NICS v Mossley, 12pm; Instonians v Cookstown, 1pm; NICS v Annadale, 2pm

Sunday: NICS v Cookstown, 10.30am; Annadale v Mossley, 11.30am; NICS v Instonians, 12.30pm; Mossley v Cookstown, 1.30pm; Annadale v Instonians, 2.30pm

Women’s Leinster groups (all at the Shoreline Leisure Centre, Greystones)

Women’s Group One standings (played): 1. Old Alex (2) 6pts (+11) 2. Railway Union (1) 3pts (+9) 3. Trinity (1) 3pts (+2) 4. Genesis (2) 0pts (-9) 5. Pembroke (2) 0pts (-13)

Group Two (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 9pts (+22) 2. Hermes (3) 9pts (+9) 3. Corinthian (2) 3pts (-2) 4. Clontarf (3) 3pts (-6) 5. Avoca (3) 3pts (-8) 6. Newbridge (3) 0pts (-14)

Saturday fixtures: Newbridge v Glenanne, 3.30pm; Trinity v Old Alex, 4.15pm; Newbridge v Avoca, 5pm; Hermes v Corinthian, 5.45pm; Avoca v Clontarf, 6.30pm; Genesis v Railway, 7.15pm

Sunday: Old Alex v Railway, 10am; Trinity v Pembroke, 11am; Corinthian v Clontarf, 12pm; Trinity v Railway, 1pm; Hermes v Glenanne, 1.45pm; Genesis v Pembroke, 2.30pm

Connacht group (all at NUI Galway): Greenfields v Galway, 11.15am; Galway v Greenfields, 12.30pm; Galway v Greenfields, 2pm

Leinster Women’s Division Two (Saturday): Pembroke v Genesis, 11am, Serpentine Ave; Newbridge v Corinthian, 11.30am, St Mary’s, Naas; North Kildare v UCD, 11.45am, Kilcock; Railway Union v Loreto, 2.15pm, Park Ave

They snatched a dramatic victory over YMCA in their first game, a chaotic tie which was won 4-3 in an incredible last minute showing. YM led three times with Trevor Dagg, Phil Powderly and Richard Margetson putting them ahead. In between times, Iain Walker – playing outfield – brilliantly took a Daniel Scott corner-flick off the line.

Scott – an Australian living in London but guesting this weekend – did nab the first equaliser while James Gurbiel poached a pair. His second tied it at 3-3 in the closing minute with Clontarf down a man due to Maverick Yow’s green card.

And the unlikely comeback was complete when the Bulls won a corner on the hooter which Gareth Borland duly flicked home, meaning their day was completed early with a pair of wins to their name.

Midway through the game, word came through that Trinity were not able to field for their date with Clontarf. A walkover was conceded and, with goal difference likely to be key, the organisers decided the students were disqualified upcoming results would all be counted as 5-0 losses.

Those three points, added to a tight 3-2 win over Suttonians, leave the Bulls on nine points from their three games.

As a result of Trinity’s plight, Railway’s first competitive game came in the second last tie of the weekend in which they had too much know-how for Suttonians, winning out 5-2. It leaves them in second place in the pool, level on points with YM but with a game in hand.

The date between YM and Railway will prove pivotal in the shake-up for the finals berths. With Bandon and UCC both withdrawing from the competition, it means that the top two from the two Leinster groups go through to those playoff phases with the initially planned wildcard round now redundant.

Group One is wide open with just reigning champions Three Rock Rovers with a 100pc record having overcome Weston 6-0, grabbing two late goals when they swapped out their goalkeeper in search of more goals.

They added a 2-1 victory on Sunday against Pembroke in what looked to be one of the group’s key games. The 2010 champions Pembroke shaded a scoreless first half of play but Rovers stepped up in the second half with Peter Blakeney netting from play before Garry Ringwood scored a penalty stroke. Kirk Shimmins got one back with four minutes to go but an equaliser was not forthcoming.

Earlier in the competition, Irish outdoor captain Ronan Gormley was among Pembroke’s ‘guest’ players along with UCD man Nick Burns as a very young selection had too much in the tank for Fingal as they won both halves 5-2 for a total 10-4 win. Mick O’Connor grabbed the first hat-trick of the day.

Corinthian came from 4-1 down to tie as a three goal blitz at the start of the second half had Glenanne in the box seat but Glen Holmes, Andrew Sutton and Dan Treacy responded, the latter pair both scoring in the 31^st minute, to earn a point.

Both would later pick up wins to head up the group overnight with the reds disposing of Weston courtesy of Glen Holmes four goals and a Neil Young hat-trick, transforming a tight 4-3 into a more comfortable 8-3 by the final hooter.

Glenanne did for Fingal in the final game of day one, Shane O’Donoghue’s hat-trick of first half corners helping them to a 5-1 win.

And the Tallaght side ended day two top of the pile with a second victory, getting the better of Weston 7-1. Pembroke’s 6-1 dismissal of Corinthian means it looks a three-horse race for the play-off places with one point separating the Glens, Pembroke and Rovers.

On the women’s side, Armagh’s reign as indoor champions came to an end in the Ulster pool in dramatic fashion. They went out on the goals scored divider as Ards won their closing game 3-0 to draw level with the Orchard women on goal difference but with two extra goals to their name.

The Ulster Elks went unbeaten to head up the group with wins over Portadown, Armagh and Queens. Ards and Armagh got into a goalscoring race after both fell to a loss and a draw each in their six-team pool.

Five sides in Leinster have perfect records in two groups which got underway at the new venue in the Shoreline leisure centre in Greystones. Glenanne were the most impressive, taking three large wins to head up Group Two with large wins over Clontarf, Avoca and Corinthian.

Hermes were run closer, particularly by Avoca in a 3-2 result, to record their three wins to leave the sides looking good to take their chance of progressing. Group One is less progressed with Old Alex on two wins from two, Trinity and Railway Union on one each to leave Pembroke and Genesis playing catch-up.

Men’s National Indoor Trophy results
Group One: Glenanne 4 (P Fitzpatrick 2, S Brownlow, S O’Donoghue) Corinthian 4 (G Holmes 2, A Sutton, D Treacy); Pembroke 10 (M O’Connor 3, N Burns 2, K Shimmins 2, K Crawford 2, G Dagg) Fingal 4 (A Shekleton, G Shekleton, S Dempsey, S McKeever); TRR 6 (G Ringwood 3, P Blakeney 2, G Bourke) Weston 0; Weston 3 (S Pearson 2, P Baron) Corinthian 8 (G Holmes 4, N Young 3, D Treacy); Glenanne 5 (S O’Donoghue 3, R Shaw, D Keogh) Fingal 1 (G Shekleton); TRR 2 (G Ringwood, P Blakeney) Pembroke 1 (K Shimmins); Pembroke 6 (K Crawford 3, N Burns, D Kane, K Shimmins) Corinthian 1 (J Roberts); Glenanne 7 (R Shaw 2, G Shaw, C Kennedy, E O’Malley 2, S O’Donoghue) Weston 1 (K Goodwin)
Group One standings (played): 1. Glenanne (3) 7pts (+10) 2. Pembroke (3) 6pts (+11) 3. TRR (2) 6pts (+7) 4. Corinthian (4) 5pts (0) 5. Fingal (3) 1pt (-10) 6. Weston (3) 0pts (-17)

Group Two: Clontarf 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr); Clontarf 4 (J Gurbiel 2, D Scott, G Borland) YMCA 3 (T Dagg, P Powderly, R Margetson); Railway Union 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr); YMCA 5 (w/o) Dublin Univsersity (scr); Clontarf 3 (A Poynter, G Borland, M Yow) Suttonians 2 (K O’Sullivan, D Reamsbottom); Suttonians 2 (C Gillett 2) YMCA 4 (S Walker, T Dagg, I Walker, A Dale); Railway 5 (E MacArthur 2, P English, K Carroll, B Thompson) Suttonians 2 (K O’Hare, C Gillett); Suttonians 5 (w/o) Dublin University 0 (scr)
Group Two standings: 1. Clontarf (3) 9pts (+7) 2. Railway (2) 6pts (+8) 3. YMCA (3) 6pts (+6) 4. Suttonians (3) 3pts (+1) 5. Dublin University (4) 0pts (-20)

Women’s National Indoor Trophy
Group One: Old Alex 7 Genesis 0; Pembroke 1 Railway Union 10; Old Alex 4 Pembroke 0; Trinity 4 Genesis 2
Standings (played): 1. Old Alex (2) 6pts (+11) 2. Railway Union (1) 3pts (+9) 3. Trinity (1) 3pts (+2) 4. Genesis (2) 0pts (-9) 5. Pembroke (2) 0pts (-13)

Group Two: Glenanne 7 Clontarf 0; Clontarf 1 Hermes 4; Newbridge 0 Clontarf 4; Hermes 3 Avoca 2; Corinthian 1 Avoca 2; Hermes 5 Newbridge 0; Avoca 0 Glenanne 8; Corinthian 1 Glenanne 8; Corinthian 5 Newbridge 0
Standings (played): 1. Glenanne 9pts (+22) 2. Hermes (3) 9pts (+9) 3. Corinthian (2) 3pts (-2) 4. Clontarf (3) 3pts (-6) 5. Avoca (3) 3pts (-8) 6. Newbridge (3) 0pts (-14)

Group Four: Portadown 2 Lurgan 8; Armagh 4 Ards 2; Portadown 1 Ulster Elks 5; Queens 1 Lurgan 4; Ulster Elks 2 Ards 2; Armagh 4 Queens 1; Portadown 2 Ards 8; Ulster Elks 4 Queens 3; Ulster Elks 3 Armagh 1; Ards 7 Queens 2; Armagh 2 Lurgan 2; Portadown 3 Queens 7; Ulster Elks 3 Lurgan 3; Portadown 0 Armagh 9; Ards 3 Lurgan 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster Elks 11pts (+7) 2. Ards 10pts (+12) 3. Armagh 10pts (+12) 4. Lurgan 8pts (+6) 5. Queens 3pts (-5) 6. 0pts (-29)