Summary:
The curtain has fallen on another highly entertaining and successful year for UL GAA. Two more All Ireland’s were clinched during the final week of the season while there was always plenty of heartbreak for our intermediate hurlers and senior ladies football team.
On Monday on Week 7, our intermediate camogie team capped off their highly impressive year with a powerful display against NUI Maynooth to capture the All Ireland title. The girls flew seven goals into the Maynooth goal to seal a 26 point win.
The following day, our intermediate hurlers travelled to Ballykelly hoping for the same outcome following their triumph in Munster. But it wasn’t to be for UL as the team fell to a agonising one point loss at the hands of UCD.
Friday saw the kick off of the Ladies Football Weekend in Tralee and UL had two teams competing. First up, the Lynch team sealed their spot in Saturday’s final with a battling 1-19 to 4-6 win over WIT. Following on from that, their senior counterparts showed their strength and unity to fight back and claim a victory over rivals, DCU to advance to the O’Connor Cup final.
The O’Connor Cup team sent the Lynch team off to John Mitchel’s GAA Club with a cheer on Saturday morning and boosted by this, the team produced an utterly dominant display against DIT, who they had loss to previously, to claim UL’s first ever Lynch Cup.
They then took to the stands to see UL battle it out with UCD to see who would claim the O’Connor Cup title. It was too close to call in the first half, 0-2 each the score at half time. UCD went on a scoring blitz at the start of the second half which sparked UL to battle back. Massive credit to the girls for bringing the game back to a point, but they ran out of time and suffered a heartbreaking 1-7 to 0-9 loss.
Reports:
(photos courtesy of anoisphotography.com)
By Marisa Kennedy
Lynch Cup Semi-Final
Friday March 11, IT Tralee
UL 1-19 WIT 4-6
UL are through to the Lynch Cup semi-final after a dominant display over WIT in Tralee on Friday. A third goal for WIT’s Mairead Daly proved to be the last score of the game but it wasn’t enough for the team who trailed from the second minute. There was a 20 minute break in the second half when UL’s top-scorer, Anna Tuohy picked up a suspected knee injury.
It was a match of high intensity with WIT drawing first blood from a free. However confusion in from of the WIT goal resulted in Anna Tuohy netting the first goal of the game. Their joy was short lived as Mairead Daly strolled through the UL defence to score her first.
Tuohy, together with Ellen Dowling fired UL into a five point lead with four unanswered points. WIT struggled to score points from play but a well worked passage of play resulted in their second goal from Aleisha Cullen. UL finished the first half the dominant team, scoring three more to go in four ponts ahead.
It was much the same in the second half, UL content to take their points and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Daly grabbed her second goal of the game to reignite WIT’s spirit, following that up with a well taken free. UL started to regain their momentum though Dowling and Laura Rodgers until the injury to Tuohy halted that.
After she was stretchered off, there was five minutes remaining in which UL scored two more points before Daly hit home to complete her hattrick.
UL now face DIT in the final tomorrow (12th March) in John Mitchells GAA Club.
UL team and scorers: Elaine Murphy, Eva O’Dea, Hannah McMahon, Shauna Harvey, Danielle O’Connor, Clodagh McGrath, Laura Kelly, Georgina Buckley, Aoife Keane (0-2, 1f), Shauna Molloy, Laura Rodgers (0-2), Emma Needham (0-1), Ellen Dowling (0-7, 4f), Anna Tuohy (1-7, 2f), Nicola O’Malley.
Substitutions: Michelle Dullea for Needham, Sarah Ryan for Tuohy, Mary Buckley for O’Connor, Rosemarie Dullea for Keane.
WIT team and scorers: Aoife McAuliffe, Aileen Sheehan, Aine Byrne, Rebecca George, Amanda Scallan, Michaela Nolan, Paula Faulkner, Shauna Dunphy, Niamh Moore (0-1), Aine O’Reilly, Mairead Daly (3-5, 3f), Fiona Rowe, Aleisha Cullen (1-0), Laura Fitzgerald, Deirbhle Hennessy.
Substitutions: Lorraine Bray for Rowe, Molly Moran for Hennessy, Nora Walsh for Cullen.
By Marisa Kennedy
O’Connor Cup Semi-Final
Friday March 11, John Mitchells GAA
UL 3-4 DCU 1-8
UL produced a strong second half comeback to keep their three in a row O’Connor Cup dreams alive. Although DCU were utterly dominant in the first half, two goals in the last 30 minutes saw the Limerick side clinch a spot in tomorrow’s final.
UL trailed by only one at half-time in what was perhaps, a flattering scoreline for UL. The DCU defence held firm for the majority of the first half, pushing UL back and forcing the to shoot from afar. However, Niamh O’Dea finished off a team move to find the back of the net after six minutes. Moments later, at the other end, Lisa Crowley was forced to produce a spectacular save to deny the DCU forwards. Undeterred, Sarah Rowe and Eabha Rutledge ensured DCU always maintained the lead.
UL were first out of the starting blocks in the second half, scoring 1-2 without reply, O’Dea grabbing her second. Carol Hegarty scored a wonderful point to keep DCU within touch. Then came a huge blow for DCU when Lorraine O’Shea was knocked out cold and had to leave the field on a stretcher after 20 minutes stoppage time. UL piled on the pressure after the stoppage and were rewarded when Aileen Wall scored the teams final goal to seal the win. DCU ran out of time, a late Sarah Rowe goal not enough to gain the draw.
UL will now face UCD in the final tomorrow at 3pm in John Mitchells GAA Club.
UL team and scorers: Lisa Crowley, Laurie Ryan, Caoimhe McGrath, Kate Keaney, Aine Seoige, Niamh Richardson, Louise Ward, Jennifer Grant, Clodagh McManamon, Emma Buckley, Anna Galvin, Aileen Wall (1-0), Niamh O’Dea (2-0), Ailish Considine (0-1), Roisin Leonard (0-3, 1f).
Substitutions: Megan Heneghan for Buckley, Aisling McCarthy for Considine, Lisa McManamon for Keaney, Caroline McCarthy for O’Dea.
DCU team and scorers: Emer Ní Éafa, Grainne O’Loughlin, Deirdre Murphy, Leah Caffrey, Lorraine O’Shea, Bríd O’Sullivan, Aisling MacAuliffe, Karen McDermott, Lauren Magee Reilly, Niamh Rickard, Siobhan Woods, Eabha Rutledge, Aishling Sheridan, Sarah Rowe, Michelle Farrell.
Substitutions: Carol Hegarty for Farrell, Emma Colgan for O’Shea, Philippa Greene for Caffrey.
By Marisa Kennedy
Lynch Cup Final
Saturday March 12, John Mitchels GAA
UL 3-10 WIT 1-7
UL claimed the Lynch Cup title for the first time after an impressive display against DIT in Tralee on Saturday. This was the second time this side met DIT in the competiton, having lost to the Dublin side in the earlier stages.
However UL were not going to let history repeat itself and laid down an early marker after just 13 minutes when Emma Needham hit the back of the net. Bronagh Sheridan helped keep DIT in touch through a well taken free. The UL defence put in an enormous shift, not allowing DIT a path through and clearing a huge amount of ball and the forwards responded. Sarah Ryan hit a wonderful point before Player of the Match, Laura Rodgers scored the teams second goal. DIT hit a slight purple patch just before half time, scoring three unanswered points from the boot of Sheridan and Aoife Thompson.
It was all UL at the start of the second half. Shauna Molloy and Ellen Dowling put points on the board before Ryan did supreme work to gain a penalty which she herself put away. DIT pulled a goal back through Niamh Halton but this only served to motivate the UL team who scored five more points to see out a nine point victory.
Captain Eva O’Dea lifted the Lynch Cup to signal great celebrations for the squad.
A huge congratulations to all the team and management!
UL team and scorers: Elaine Murphy, Eva O’Dea, Hannah McMahon, Shauna Harvey, Danielle O’Connor, Clodagh McGrath, Laura Kelly, Georgina Buckley, Aoife Keane (0-1), Shauna Molloy (0-1), Laura Rodgers (1-5, 1f), Emma Needham (1-0), Ellen Dowling (0-2), Sarah Ryan (1-1, 1-0 pen), Nicola O’Malley.
Substitutions: Michelle Dullea for Needham, Mary Buckley for Molloy.
DIT team and scorers: Orla McGonigle, Chloe Troy, Olivia Crossan, Lisa Gillman, Amy Gaffney, Niamh McGettigan, Caroline O’Brien, Catriona Murphy, Ellie O’Neill, Meaghan Dunne, Emer Heaney, Niamh Halton (1-1), Kate Dwyer (0-2), Bronagh Sheridan (0-3, 3f), Aoife Thompson (0-1).
Substitutions: Aisling Hanley for Heaney.
By Marisa Kennedy
O’Connor Cup Final
Saturday March 12, John Mitchels GAA
UL 0-9 UCD 1-7
Despite a spirited late comeback by UL, UCD claimed their first O’Connor Cup title since 2006 in an enthralling clash in Tralee on Saturday.
UCD stormed into a six point lead immediately after half time but five points from Róisín Leonard helped reduce the gap to just one when they ran out of time.
The first half was a tight encounter to say the least. Both defences ran the show, both UCD and UL having to work extremely hard to gain a score. Kate O’Sullivan was first off the mark for UCD, closely followed by Niamh O’Dea for the Limerick side. A rasper of a shot from the Clare star then rattled the crossbar. A point apiece then followed to leave the sides level after the low-scoring first half.
Then came the UCD onslaught. Player of the Match, Nicola Ward fired home for the game’s only goal, while substitute, Emma Guckian immediately made her presence known with two points.
UL eventually weathered the storm and started to gain their own momentum late in the second half. Leonard struck four frees plus a magnificent point from play, while O’Dea also added to the cause. However the three-in-a-row wasn’t to be for UL as Ciara Murphy lifted the O’Connor Cup to see it return to Belfield.
UL team and scorers: Lisa Crowley, Laurie Ryan, Caoimhe McGrath, Kate Keaney, Aine Seoige, Niamh Richardson, Louise Ward, Jennifer Grant, Clodagh McManamon, Aisling McCarthy, Anna Galvin, Megan Heneghan, Niamh O’Dea (0-2), Ailish Considine, Roisin Leonard (0-7, 6f).
Substitutions: Lisa McManamon for Keaney.
UCD team and scorers: Orla McDonald, Deirdre Kearney, Ciara McDermott, Deirdre Foley, Martha Byrne, Sarah Gormally, Ciara Murphy, Nicola Ward (1-0), Lucy Collins, Kate O’Sullivan (0-1), Niamh Collins, Molly Cullen, Roisin Curran (0-2, 1f), Michelle Davoren.
Substitutions: Emma Guckian (0-3) for L Collins, Elaine Scally (0-1) for Davoren, Niamh Ryan for Curran.
Week 7 Results:
Intermediate Camogie Final: UL 7-11 NUI Maynooth 1-3
Intermediate Hurling Final: UL 2-11 UCD 1-15
Intermediate Ladies Football Lynch Cup Semi-Final: UL 1-19 WIT 4-6
Senior Ladies Football O’Connor Cup Semi-Final: UL 3-4 DCU 1-8
Intermediate Ladies Football Lynch Cup Final: UL 3-10 DIT 1-7
Senior Ladies Football O’Connor Cup Final: UL 0-9 UCD 1-7
Make sure to check back in next week for a full round up of all the highs and lows for UL in our 2015/2016 season review!
