THE ladies of University College Dublin were not to be outdone by their male counterparts' Sigerson Cup success as they landed the women's equivalent, winning the O'Connor Cup last Saturday in Tralee, beating reigning champions and favourites University of Limerick.
They had to withstand a late rally from the Limerick side that yielded six unanswered points, before being crowned champions on a 1-7 to 0-9 scoreline. The win ended a 10-year wait for the Dublin college, while it ended hopes of three in-a-row for UL.
UCD, managed by former Monaghan boss Peter Clarke, booked their place in the showdown with a 3-9 to 0-10 win over University College Cork in last Friday's semi-final. Donegal's Roisin Curran struck an early goal from the penalty spot to give them the advantage and, at the break, they led 2-4 to 0-7, Megan Glynn with their second major. They made sure of victory with a third goal, this time from Galway star Nicola Ward, who set up a final meeting against her twin Louise, who lined out for UL when they overcame Dublin City University 3-4 to 1-8.
Clare's Niamh O'Dea struck two second-half goals as they turned around a 0-6 to 1-2 interval deficit, Aileen Wall hitting their first-half goal. The excellent Sarah Rowe did hit a late goal for DCU, but UL held on.
Captained by Donegal's Kate Keaney, UL went into the final as favourites but, after a very close and low-scoring opening period, they were hit with a UCD storm at the start of the second-half. Locked at 0-2 apiece at the break, a somewhat fortunate goal from player of the match Nicola Ward edged UCD into the driving seat.
Roisin Curran and Emma Guckian (two) followed up with further points and, suddenly, UCD led 1-5 to 0-2. Roisin Leonard, who was to play a major part in the fightback later in the game, hit back with a point, but Curran with a superbly struck free and Elaine Scally immediately after coming off the bench pushed UCD seven clear with under 10 minutes remaining.
Now was the time UL showed why they had won this title for the previous two years and were in no mood for letting it go. Five pointed frees from Leonard, who finished with 0-7 in all, and one from O'Dea left one between them at the finish as UCD, thanks to that all important Ward goal, held on to end the 10-year wait. Along with the aforementioned Curran at corner-forward, fellow Donegal star Deirdre Foley and Monaghan's Ciara McDermott also played a major part in UCD colours in the full-back line, where both excelled.
Earlier in the day, there was better news for UL as their second team lifted the Lynch Cup with a 3-10 to 1-7 win over Dublin Institute of Technology. It was this competition that involved Ulster University Jordanstown, who put in a superb display before bowing out to DIT after extra time at the semi-final stage last Friday, 1-22 to 2-11.
At the break, DIT, who had Cavan's Bronagh Sheridan and Niamh Halton and Donegal's Orla McGonigle in their ranks, led by two points, 0-9 to 1-4, Armagh's Megan Sheridan with UUJ's major. They looked like coasting into the decider as they moved 0-16 to 1-4 clear during the second period, but UUJ came roaring back with an unanswered 1-6 in the final 10 minutes to force extra-time, Claragh Connor with the goal from the penalty spot. The sides were still locked together at the end of the first period, but DIT pulled clear to set up the final against UL, who had beaten WIT 1-19 to 4-6.
In the Giles Cup, Monaghan's Ailbhe Boyle and Donegal trio Hannah Gallagher, Aine Coll and Caroline Sharkey helped St Pat's Drumcondra defeat Mary Immaculate Limerick by the narrowest of margins, 0-12 to 1-8, in the final.
THERE was disappointment for St Ronan's, Lurgan last Saturday in the Post-Primary Schools All-Ireland Junior A final in Drogheda as they went down 5-10 to 1-9 to Scoil Criost Ri, Portlaoise.
The star of the day was Emma Lawlor and it was her five goals - all in the first-half - that did the damage as they went in at the break leading 5-8 to 1-4.
