IT has been 12 years since Ulster University competed in the top tier of third-level colleges’ football on finals weekend but they will bridge that gap today when they take on University College Cork in the O’Connor Cup semi-final.
The northern college may be the underdogs of the four remaining teams – DCU and TUD meet in the other semi – but after winning the Giles Cup (the second tier competition) under Sean O’Kane and Tommy Coleman last year, they have shown they can mix it with the best, with victories over TCD and University of Galway getting them through to this weekend.
They have worked hard to get here, especially with not competing in the top league division meaning they were not getting the chance to play against the likes of the UCCs and DCUs on a weekly basis.
Stephen Mooney and Eoin Donnelly are team managers, just as they are for the fourths team, who were beaten by 3-4 to 2-4 by DCU in yesterday’s Lagan Cup final.
Monaghan’s Amy Garland captains the side, which also features her twin sister Amy, Antrim’s Maria O’Neill and Ciara Brown; Down’s Paige Smith and Erin Sands; Armagh’s Maeve Ferguson and Caitriona O’Hagan; and Tyrone’s Emma Conroy.
“It was a big challenge for us to make the O’Connor Cup weekend this year, but Eoin and I were quietly confident all year of making the weekend as we see the talent within the squad on a night-by-night basis,” said Mooney.
“The girls have performed brilliantly and have deservedly made the weekend. Obviously, UU have a strong pedigree in all competitions and with that comes expectation.
“After winning the Giles Cup last year, the aim of the squad has been to compete with the top teams in the O’Connor Cup and I think we have proven that we are capable of doing that.
“It’s been 12 years since UU have played in the O’Connor Cup weekend which shows how difficult it is to make it and we are encouraging the players to enjoy the experience and make the most of the opportunity.”
UU played their semi-final opponents three weeks ago in the group stages of the competition, with UCC getting the win, and Mooney knows the challenge that is before them, but they remain confident as they aim to reach the final for the first time since 2012, when they incidentally lost to UCC. Their last O’Connor Cup win was in 2008.
“We are under no illusions as to the task we face again. However, we will have a stronger squad available for this game and we will feel that we have improved since then.
FRIDAY’S FIXTURES
(at Bishopstown Campus, MTU Cork)
Moynihan Cup semi-finals
ATU Sligo v SETU Waterford (12pm), MICL2 v University of Liverpool (12pm)
Lynch Cup semi-finals
DkIT v MTU Cork (1.30pm)
UCC v DCU3 (3pm)
O’Connor Cup semi-finals
UCC v UU (1.30pm)
DCU v TUD (3.30pm)
Giles Cup final MU v MTU Kerry (5pm)
