Pegasus’s brilliant 3-2 win against Loreto saw the lead swap hands at the head of the women’s EY Hockey League as the Ulster side are now the side to beat in the division.
They had fallen behind early to Nicci Daly’s strike but soon hit the front via Caitlyn Harvey and Ruth Maguire. Siofra O’Brien replied for previous table-toppers Loreto to make it 2-2 but it stayed that way for just a minute before Lucy McKee got the key goal.
The win puts Pegs two points clear at the top with five rounds of matches to go, putting the title chase right back in their hands.
UCD remain in the mix as they edged out Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park with first half goals from Abbie Russell and Niamh Carey helping them to a 2-1 win. Emilia Cutrona got one back but Quins could not force an equaliser in a stirring closing spell.
The students are seven points off top but have a game in hand against bottom placed Muckross to try and close the gap.
Cork Harlequins recorded back-to-back home wins for the first time this season to stay in fourth place when Rebecca Barry’s hat trick helped them to a 3-1 win over Railway Union.
Pembroke are a point back from them as Alice Ward and Emily Beatty’s goals earned a 2-0 win from the Dublin 4 derby at Muckross.
Muckross’s main hopes of avoiding the drop now look set to be via the relegation playoff but they need to overhaul Ards to have a chance in that scenario.
Ards, for their part, lost 2-1 to Old Alex with Erika Hinkson and Lisa Jacob – back after long-term injury – scoring in the first half to power their win. They look all but safe in their first season since promotion. For Ards, their March 30 date with Muckross looks like being the key battle.
In EYHL2, Monkstown joined Catholic Institute in the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Dungannon from Pool B. In Pool A, this week will be a defining one after Trinity beat Queen’s 2-1 via final quarter goals from Ailish Long and Rachel Burns.
The result means four teams are still in the mix with UCC keeping up their interest with a 1-0 away win at Greenfields. Corinthian and Trinity play twice this week to develop their chances.
EY Hockey League: Belfast Harlequins 1 (E Cutrona) UCD 2 (A Russell, N Carey); Cork Harlequins 3 (R Barry 3) Railway Union 1 (K Fearon); Loreto 2 (N Daly, S O’Brien) Pegasus 3 (C Harvey, R Maguire, L McKee); Muckross 0 Pembroke 2 (A Ward, E Beatty); Old Alexandra 2 (E Hinkson, L Jacob) Ards 1 (H Platt)
