UCD Mens and Womens hockey teams played two important games at the weekend with unfortunatly only the women comingmout on top.

MEN’S HOCKEY

YMCA hold off late UCD rally to go clear at the top

YMCA moved two points clear at the top of the Leinster first division on Saturday, holding off a late rally from UCD to take advantage of second-placed Glenanne being held to a draw at home by Fingal earlier in the day.

By the time goals from Andy Walker (penalty stroke), Marcus Richardson, Phil Marshall and Jamie Tobin put the league leaders 4-1 up against the students, having trailed at the break to a Shane Nolan goal, they seemed destined to win with as much ease as they did in their 8-2 victory over the same opponents earlier in the season.

By full-time, though, UCD had narrowed the deficit to a single goal, Tim Hill pulling one back before Walker’s second penalty stroke, with Shane O’Donnell and Conor Motyer then scoring for the visitors to set up a nervy final few minutes for the hosts.

Glenanne, in contrast, failed to hold off Fingal’s quest for a late equaliser in Tallaght, Paddy Gahan’s goal near the death making it 3-3 and depriving the title contenders of two valuable points.

Two goals in each half gave third-placed Pembroke Wanderers a comfortable win away to Weston, one that lifts them to within a point of Glenanne, but Monkstown and Railway Union, in fourth and fifth respectively, made no headway on the top three after drawing 2-2 at Rathdown.

The teams in sixth and seventh also drew, Lucas Piccioli getting a late equaliser for Corinthian against his former club Three Rock Rovers.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY :

Loreto and UCD close the gap on leaders Hermes 

Just two points now separate the top three in the Leinster first division after leaders Hermes were held to a draw by Old Alexandra on Saturday, Loreto and UCD both picking up wins to close the gap, writes Mary Hannigan.

At Milltown Hermes fell behind to a Shirley McCay short corner strike midway through the first half.

Alexandra, without several key players on Saturday, held that lead until the middle of the second period, Sinead Connery levelling for Hermes after they had been thwarted on a number of occasions by fine defending and goalkeeping from Pamela Smithwick.

Loreto, meanwhile, made it seven wins out of seven with a 5-1 defeat of Glenanne, Cathy McKean scoring twice, while a double from Chloe Watkins gave UCD a 2-1 victory over Trinity.