LIT prove too clinical for Fresher Hurlers

Fresher A Hurling League Final

LIT 0-20

DCU 2-8

@ Eire Og, Carlow

 

A free taking masterclass by Waterford’s Shane Bennett provided LIT the platform to win the Fresher Hurling Division One title in Eire Og GAA Club, Carlow last night.

DCU entered the league final with aspirations of landing a first title at hurling level for the college, however a poor second quarter gave LIT the breathing room to land their first title since 2008. The opening exchanges were tight and tense, with the scores level at 1-3 to 0-6 at the quarter hour mark. DCU’s goal coming from Harry O’Connor, while Kerry’s Jordan Conway notched two excellent points for the Limerick college. It was the next fifteen minutes when Shane Bennett rattled off 6 unanswered points all from frees that created a gap that was too difficult to fully reel in for the DCU lads. DCU will rue this period of the game, as unnecessary frees costs them around the middle third of the field. The teams left the field at half time with LIT leading on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-3.

DCU came out strong in the second half and valiantly went about reducing the deficit. The momentum was with DCU, as Liam Fahy notched two good points, with further points added by the ever battling O’Connors. But it was the accuracy of Shane Bennett from frees and the industry around the field of Ben O’Gorman, fresh off the back of Wolfe Tones provincial campaign, that kept the margin intact during the second half period.  DCU’s resolve was consistent throughout, with some standout performers in the shape of Aaron Maddock, Sean McCaw and Conor McSweeney.

A late goal from sub Eoghan Conroy, reduced the gap to four points but LIT finished strong again to ensure they finished with a well deserved six point win. The final score of 0-20 to 2-8 made sure that LIT were comfortable enough in the finish.

DCU’s management team will be left with both positive and negatives from the league campaign and will be looking towards the Championship in February. LIT will be pleased with their victory and will be looking towards a double in 2016, as a seriously competitive Fresher Hurling Championship awaits.

DCU advance to Fresher A League Final

Fresher A

Semi –Final

DCU 2-17

NUIG 1-6

@DCU Sportsgrounds

DCU booked a place in this year’s league final with a very impressive display as they got over the challenge of the gutsy NUIG side as the home side proved too strong in the end.

DCU who had the aid of a strong wind in the opening half, opened the scoring with a brace first scoring from David Brady and the second point coming from centre forward James Mealiff. But the visitors responded in great fashion as they netted for the first goal in the match when corner forward Ronan Geraghty got on the end of a fine team move to put them ahead by single point. Brady soon had the sides level but NUIG replied with brace to go ahead by two points but for the remainder of the half DCU took over with some fine scores and DCU also found the net when David Brady netted for the home side to go in front by three points 1-5, 1-2. NUIG knocked over a free to reduce the deficit but the home side scored 5 points on the bounce to go in at the break 7 points in front 1-10 to 1-3.

NUIG got off to a bright start in the second half as they got the first three scores of the half best of which came from Galway minor Eric Lee as his side reduced the gap to four points but that was as good as it got for the visitors as DCU dominated the remainder of the match as the game was over as a contest when Brady netted his second goal of the match on the 37 minute of play while DCU added seven further scores, Rory Feely among the scorers. DCU must await the winners of the replay between UUJ against MU who will play UCC to see who will face DCU in the final .  

UCD Win Ryan Cup

Ryan Cup Final

UCD 2-18

DCU 0-12

@Parnell Park

UCD ended DCU’s hopes of reclaiming the Ryan Cup with a very impressive performance from south Dublin college. It was UCD who opened the scoring when Eoin Lowry (Laois) knocked over a 45 to open the scoring before DCU replied with point from Ultan Harney. UCD went back in front when Conor Mullaly came from defence to join the attack and rounded off fine move but DCU were soon in front as first Conor McHugh had the sides level and Stephen Attride put DCU in front for the first time in the match . Lowry had the side’s level before DCU kicked three points on the spin to go 0-6 to 0-3 in front and take control of proceedings. A 17^th minute free from Paul Mannion reduced the margin to two points and things got better for John Divilly’s men, as UCD found the back of the net as Kingston flicked the ball to the net. Mannion and footballer of the year Jack McCaffrey added further points to send UCD four points in front. McHugh knocked over a free for DCU to reduce the margin back to three points. But  a brace from Mannion and Lowry had five points between the sides as the match approached half time DCU did get a point back through Harney but UCD finished the half with their second goal of the match this time Padriac Harnan finishing the ball to the net.

UCD got the opening two points of the half, with Kildare’s Niall Kelly getting his first point of the final and Mannion with his fifth of the match to extend the margin between the sides. DCU replied with a point from Conor McGraynor but this point was soon cancelled out when Kelly got his second point of the match. DCU were searching for a way to get back into the contest and when Cian Breheny went on run he was taken down which resulted in a free which was scored by McHugh . Two further frees from Fermangh’s Ryan Lyons had DCU back within 6 points 2-12 – 0-12 but that was as good as got as UCD scored 6 unanswered points in the final quarter to run out comfortable winners in the end and claim the Ryan Cup.

Busy Week ahead

 

Camogie

Ashbourne Cup

DCU vs WIT @7pm in WIT Sportsgrounds on Wednesday

Wednesday will see the opening round of this year’s Ashbourne Cup as DCU take on the current champions WIT. The Ashbourne Cup is under a new championship structure and a win for either team would see that team in a strong position of making the weekend, which this year is in NUIG. Both DCU  and WIT Camogie teams had mixed league campaigna but a win tomorrow would cap a great end to the current semester.

Hurling

DCU vs LIT TBC on Thursday

It will be a first final appearance for DCU in a very long time as they take on LIT in the final on Thursday. Last week they faced UCC in Cork and came out on top by single point which was very pleasuring from the managements point of view.  Both sides were playing in Cork last week, as LIT saw off the CIT challenge comfortably. It will be all to play for on Thursday night.

Ladies Football

Ladies Division 1 DCU vs UL @8pm in DCU Sportsgrounds on Thursday

DCU come into the match as massive underdogs against the current O’Connor Cup champions but since the defeat against UCD in very poor conditions this DCU team have got back to basics and a win against the current league and championship holders would set them up against UCD in the league final.

Ladies Division 3 DCU vs UL @6.00 in DCU Sportsgrounds on Thursday

This team has been one of the form teams to date in the college with 100 percent record to date and hoping to make the league and gain promotion. This would be massive for all involved as they prepare for the upcoming Giles after winning the Lynch Cup last year. Jammy and his team continue to drive forward.

Football

Fresher Football Division 1 DCU vs NUIG @3pm in DCU Sportsgrounds on Wednesday

The Fresher Footballers have played some great football so far in the league campaign and were very impressive in their display against Mary’s in the league Quarter-Final and similar performance would be surely enough to gain a league final birth. Meanwhile with that said DCU can’t take NUIG for granted as they have proven so far that they are a good team and any team that comes out of the Western divisions is to be carefully considered.

Fresher Football Division 3 DCU vs ITSligo @7pm in ITSligo on Thursday

The Fresher C footballers will have a tough ask for them when they make the long trip to Sligo but they faced tough trips already in the league campaign and it will be no different for the management team this time around. Coming into the match on the back of an impressive victory over DKIT in the final group game DCU will be hopeful of making the final of the competition and doing so would give them a chance of retaining the league title.

Ryan Cup Final DCU vs UCD @7pm in Parnell Park on Wednesday

Both sides come into the match on the back of two impressive victories away last week. UCD went to Belfast and had impressive victory over UUJ who are one of the favourites for this year’s Sigerson Cup. Meanwhile DCU were also impressive away to UCC last Thursday and will be hopeful of retaining the Ryan Cup after victory last December against St. Mary’s. All in all its going be close match and could go either way, it is hard to know if the group game from last month in Belfield will have any bearing on the game in the home of Dublin Football.

Ashbourne Cup Preview

It’s that time of year again as DCU enter the Ashbourne Cup this week as they make the journey to Waterford as they take on WIT in the opening round of the competition . The tournament is being hosted by NUIG this year  and the launch of Ashbourne  Cup 2016 took place in DCU last week.

WIT come into the competition as major favourites for yet another Ashbourne Cup after an impressive display against UL in the final last year  which took place in DCU .

DCU on the other hand will be real outsiders and with their results in the league to date didn’t go as planned but they will be hoping for much improved performance this Wednesday and they will see if that’s enough to get them over the line and get their first of the Ashbourne Cup 2016.

Fresher Hurlers book place League Final

Fresher A Hurling

Semi-Final

DCU  2-8

UCC  1-10

@Mardyke

After the footballers came out on top it was the turn of the DCU Fresher hurlers to see if they book a place in the final of the Fresher league. It was UCC who got the first score of the match but the sides were soon level when Sean Hickey got his first point of the match. UCC went back in front before DCU and Gary Tynan scored a brace to go in front for the first time in the match. One of the key turning points came on the 11 minute when UCC were awarded a penalty but a great save from DCU’s net minder Mark Cullen who saved the ball expertly to ensure the DCU remained in tacked. This seemed to give DCU a massive boost and they punished the Cork College three minutes later when Tynan netted after good link up play with fellow corner forward Hickey as DCU went in front by four points. DCU were starting to dominate around the midfield sector and 65 was added to go five points in front but UCC did respond before the break through a free and in reality the score should been closer from the home teams point of view but nevertheless DCU lead at the break 1-4 – 0-3.

Just like the first half it was UCC who got the opening score of the half and got reduced the gap back to within three points but every time UCC would get within a score of DCU the visitors would respond with point of their own and they two points to extend the gap to five points best of which came from Rian McBride. Just as looked like the match was going away from the home side they give themselves a life line when they netted on the 39 minute of the match to bring back with two points but this DCU team showed great character as they replied with a goal of their own this time Joe O’Connor getting on the end of the move and this was followed by point for DCU to go in front by 6 point approaching the final quarter of the match. UCC to their credit showed massive character in the final 15 minutes and did come close to bringing the match to extra time but they just came up short and fell short by single point and DCU will have thank Mark Cullen who pulled off a great Save with four minutes to play and this spirit was enough for DCU to hold out for massive win and book a place in the final against LIT next Thursday evening.

DCU book place in Ryan Cup Final

Ryan Cup

Semi Final

DCU 3-11

UCC 2-8

@Mardyke

Last Thursday saw a repeat of last year’s Sigerson Cup and Ryan Cup Semi Finals. On both occasions DCU came out on top. DCU were returning to the venue where they captured the Sigerson Cup last February. Both sides had considerably different teams on show this time and it was DCU who opened the scoring when captain for the night Conor McGraynor. The home side replied with a free from Kerry’s Conor Cox before the goal of the match came when after 12 minutes when Cox’s free attempt came off the post and feel to on coming Harry Davis for the opening goal of the match. That was as good as really got for the home side as DCU would dominate the remainder of the half and wasn’t helped when Conor Dooran was shown a straight red card for the home side on 19 minutes. Conor McHugh who was making his first start of the season scored 1-2 in the space of three minutes to put DCU in front by two points. DCU were on top on all departments of the pitch and scored four further points to put themselves 6 in front at the break 1-8 -1-2.

DCU got off great start at the start of the second half when McGraynor added a free and 34 minute goal McHugh second of the match after some great team work from Steven O’Brien and McGraynor as match seemed to be one way traffic after 4 minutes of the second half . But credit to the home side who never gave up and responded with goal of their own when midfielder Gary O’Sullivan got his side back into the match with sides second goal of the match 37 minutes to bring his side back within 6 points of DCU. The home side had now the run on DCU and got within two points as Cox added four all from frees to bring his side closer to Niall Moyna’s DCU but DCU turned the screw in the final 6 minutes firstly McGraynor added a point and minute later Tom Lahiff palmed the ball to the to ensure DCU would come out of Cork with valuable win and set up a meeting with UCD on Wednesday.

 

 

Fresher’s Camogie Blitz

Eight Teams turned up to DCU last Wednesday to take part in the Fresher’s Blitz. It was two groups of four with top two teams in each group qualifying and the third place teams going straight into the shield final.

The Shield Final saw IT Carlow take on Maynooth in a very entertaining encounter but Carlow proved too strong for them in the end as they ran out comfortable winners. Meanwhile after two very entertaining Semi-Finals it was a battle between Limerick as UL took on Mary Immaculate College in the final.

Mary I took an early lead and lead at the break 6-3 but the UL girls never gave up enough though they trailed at the break they rallied in the second half but they still came up short by single goal on final score 13-12 as they left themselves too much too do at the break . But not taking anything away from very powerful display from the Mary Immaculate Girls who were outstanding throughout the day and were full value for their win.

Meanwhile DCU failed to get out of the group but showed plenty of skill and determination throughout the day and opened their campaign with very entertaining draw with IT Carlow before UCC and WIT just edged out DCU to  knock out DCU from the competition.

UCC and DCU will do battle in double header tonight

It’s a busy day for DCU in Cork today as DCU take on UCC in a double header in the Mardyke .

The Sigerson team will have fond memories of playing in the Mardyke after last year when they won the Sigerson Cup in extra time against today’s opponents UCC. The home side will be hoping get revenge for that final and knowing that place in this year’s final against UCD is at place is enough to get the home side geared up for today’s match but all the same the current Ryan Cup champions will be keen to hold on to that crown for at least another week as they make the long journey to Cork this afternoon.

Tadge Lowe who is no longer student in the college proved to be the hero last year as his kick brought the match into extra time when looked like the UCC were going hold on and make it two in row but Niall Moyna’s men held strong in the final minutes of extra time periods and went on win a famous final .

As perparations continue ahead of Sigerson 2016 it be interesting who will come out on top today. Nevertheless both teams will have high hopes going forward in the year.

The second game tonight is the Fresher A Hurling meeting between the same colleges, DCU will hoping to make into the League Final a place they haven’t been in past few years and the home side will also be hoping to make it into the final of this year’s league .

DCU prove too Strong for St.Mary’s

Fresher A Quarter –Final

DCU          2-14

St. Mary’s 1-6

@DCU Sportsgrounds

DCU booked a place in this year’s league Semi-Final as they proved too strong for the students from Belfast. In windy conditions which favoured the home side in the opening period and even though DCU did open the scoring it was the visitors who got the first goal of the match against the run play to put themselves in front but this was good indicator wether or not the team was able to come back into the match even in the early stages of the match. The home side showed great resolve and got a goal of their own when Daniel Gallagher joined the attack to net his side’s first goal of the match and while doing that his side went in front by four points 1-5- 1-1 after 18 minutes of play.

Barry Kerr added two further scores before Matthew Ruane and Matthew McKenna ensured DCU had a sizable lead at the lead at lead at the interval 1-10 – 1-2 in front.

As the rain came down at the start of the second half the conditions started to get worse and that lead that DCU had at the break looked like it could be enough to get over the line for Brendan Gillen’s men and when DCU got the opening point of the second half through a free it made it even harder for the visitors to come back into the match. In truth DCU were always in control of the match and never looked like losing and McKenna rounded the keeper that ensured DCU’s passage into the last four of the competition. The away side got two late points late on from Tyrone’s Cathal McShane but at that stage they were only consolation points for the Belfast College.

DCU will now face NUIG in the Semi-Final of the league next week with a final place at stake for the winner.