DCU win Fresher A League Title

 

Fresher A League Final

DCU 4-11

UUJ   1-6

@Corduff Gaels Monaghan

DCU Fresher footballers ended a drought of couple of seasons by reclaiming the Fresher footballer league title last night in impressive fashion as they proved far too strong for the Ulster University.

It was DCU who started the brighter of the sides and scored the opening two points of the game through Brian Reape and Matthew McKenna. UUJ had chances to reduce the margin back to within a point but on both occasions these efforts went wide. The DCU men would punish their opponents when David Brady netted the first of the match to put DCU in strong position and two further points had the score 1-4, 0-0. UUJ  looked like they were going  come right back into match when they netted a goal of their own which followed their opening point of the match as after 21 minutes of play there were only 3 points between the sides . The winning of this match came in the final 9 minutes of the match as DCU scored 1-2 without reply McKenna netting DCU’s second goal of the match which put DCU in very strong position at the break as they lead 2-6, 1-2.

DCU couldn’t got a better start at the second half as 1-1 from Cavan’s David Brady put his side further ahead at the start of the second half. DCU were reduced to 14 men on 35 minutes when Pierce Smith was shown his second yellow of the match which meant DCU would have to play the remainder of the match with 14 men. In very controlling second half performance when UUJ never looked like winning match Conor Morrision and Ronan Jones played key roles as UUJ only managed four points in the second half. Meanwhile DCU put gloss on very impressive display by netting a fourth goal of the match when Reape the Mayo man found the back of the net.

Fresher A League Final

Fresher A League Final

Tonight will see the last competitive game of the year for DCU as they try and finish the season on high with the Fresher A League Final which takes place in Corduff Gaels in Monaghan.

The Final will be a pairing of DCU and UUJ both sides were both very convincing in their Semi-Finals with wins over NUIG and UCC respectively. DCU will be high of confidence after the way they have performed to date in the league thus far, but at the same will be said for their opponents UUJ who had hard fought victory in the quarter finals after replay against Mu and were also impressive against UCC last time out which will be sure to be help to them as they lead into the final today.

Meanwhile some of the DCU players will be used to playing in Monaghan , being natives of the county Barry Kerr, James Mealiff, Jamie Walsh, Conor Duffy and John Beattie all Monaghan men .UUJ on the other hand have some of talented players especially Terrence O’Brien and Killian McEvoy who could play key roles for the Ulster University .

It’s definitely a game to look forward to this evening with either side capable of winning the match and claiming the Fresher A League for the first time in couple of seasons .

DCU Win League Title

Ladies Football

Division 1 League Final

DCU 0-11

UCD 0-8

@Belfield

After a couple of disappointing seasons in Ladies Football as DCU have failed to get over the line in the past. Last night saw the hard work which has just come up short in recent seasons pay off last night with hard fought victory over neighbours UCD in the Division 1 league final in Belfield.

This Final was a repeat of the final group stage game where the home side UCD proved too strong on that occasion and was DCU who started the brighter of the sides when Aisling Sheridan got DCU off the mark with a fine score after just a minute of the opening half and this score was followed by point from O’Toole’s Kate Fitzgibbon as she joined the attack before scoring to put DCU in front 2-0 as UCD had yet to get into the game. The conditions proved to be tricky throughout and it was fouls that were starting to come into the DCU game which lead to UCD scoring three on the spin to take the lead and go in front for the first time in the match 3-2. Both these sides seemed to be very well marched throughout the opening half as the sides were level twice more when firstly Sheridan added her second point of the game but UCD went added again through a free from full forward Emma Guckian added a free for her side to go back in front 4-3. DCU did response moments later with score of the opening half which involved 6 players in the DCU attack before Sarah Rowe kicked the ball over for DCU.   Both sides were looking to gain advantage before the half time break but both defences were starting to become dominate but UCD did hit the front before the half time through corner forward Roisin Curran. DCU had couple opportunities which ended up near misses which ensured UCD lead at the break 5-4.

At the start of the second half it was UCD who had the chance to extend their lead two points but efforts went wide which gave DCU the opportunity to reply and tie up the scores and they didn’t disappoint as Niamh Rickard tied up the scores to level the side’s level at 5 points apiece. DCU were now starting dominate around midfield and it was starting show on the score board as DCU added three further scores without reply Sheridan and Rowe to lead 8-5. UCD were struggling to get a score and DCU punished them with two further scores best of which coming from Emma Colgan from a very tricky angle which DCU in front by 5 points. UCD got their first score of the second half on 51 minutes and this was soon followed by another point for the home side to reduce the deficit back to within 3 points. Rowe added a free for DCU to put them four points in as the match approached the final 5 minutes. UCD did tried to cut back the margin but the best they could manage was point in the dying moments as DCU held on for priceless win and ensured they won the League title.

DCU win HEC Ladies Division 3 Title

Ladies Football

Division 3 League Final

DCU 3-12

DIT   1-5

@DCU Sportsgrounds

DCU will be playing in Division 2 of the league next year as they proved too strong for the girls from DIT. DCU who came into the match on the back of 100 percent record and back of winning the Lynch Cup last year were keen to win the league ahead of preparations for the Giles Cup in the New Year.

It was DIT who were score get the first score of the match but DCU replied a point from centre forward Shauna Bannon. DCU went in front when Aoife Norris knocked over a free to put DCU in front for the first time in the match. The sides were level again soon after but DCU took control of the match when Bannon kicked 1-1 to take control of the contest.

DIT replied with a score to reduce the gap but DCU put themselves in great position before the break as they scored 2-2 without reply best of which came from Ladies Chairperson Shaunagh Brady who turned her marker twice before picking her spot and scoring for DCU.
DIT to their credit did get themselves back in the match with 1-3 before the break and could been better for them if they had scored a 28 minute penalty but DCU pulled off a great save to leave the score at the break 3-5 – 1-4 .

DCU started well at the start of the second half when Captain Michelle Noonan extended the lead for the home side. DIT did reply with a point but that was as good as got for them as powerful DCU performance as they continued to dominate with 6 further points with Bannon playing a key part for the DCU Ladies while Michelle Noonan and Aoife Norris were powerful in midfield .

IT Sligo Prove too Strong in Fresher C Semi-Final

Fresher C

Semi- Final

ITSligo 2-12

DCU     1-9

@ITSligo

DCU failed to make the League final of the Fresher C league as they fell short at the Semi-Final to very strong ITSligo side who proved just too strong on the evening. It was the DCU who started well and raced into 1-1 no score lead. But just as looked like DCU were starting to get a strangle hold on the game the home side replied with two goals on the bounce to but the home side in front by two points. The sides were soon level when DCU scored two points on the bounce but that was as close as they got in the opening half as Sligo IT would dominate the remainder of the opening half as they kicked 7 unanswered points to put themselves in control of the match. DCU did get a point before the break to leave the half time score 2-7 -1-4 in favour of the home side.

DCU started bright at the start of the second half by getting the opening score of the half but that score was soon cancelled out by fine score from the home side . DCU added a free to reduce the margin back within 5 points but the home side seemed to be able add points when DCU would reduce the margin and this seen when Sligo added two points without reply . DCU did get three further points before the end and could been better only for couple top class saves from the Sligo IT keeper . DCU will now refocus for the C Championship .

 

Preview HEC League Finals

 

Ladies Football Division 3 League Final

DCU VS DIT Wednesday 6.30 @DCU Sportsgrounds

It will be a repeat of last year’s Lynch Cup Final when DCU take on DIT in all Dublin colleges final. DCU come into the match on back of hard fought victory over UL as they came out on top by 6 points in the end to book a place in Wednesday League final against DIT.

Who come into the final on the back of very entertaining Semi-Final as they got the better of DKIT in that Semi-Final to set up a repeat of last year’s Lynch Cup Final where

DCU proved too strong on that occasion but since that both teams have gone through quite lot of chance and both sides will be very eager to get promoted to division 2 for next year’s league campaign which would massive progress as both teams prepare for the upcoming championships.

 

Ladies Football Division 3 League Final

DCU VS UCD Thursday 7.00pm @Belfield

The second league final of the week for DCU will take place on Thursday evening when DCU make the shirt trip across the city to Belfield as they take on UCD in the league final. Both sides had impressive wins in the semi-Finals against UCC and UL respectively las week and both teams will be very keen to win the league title after UL’s dominace in recent seasons in both league and championships as gives both teams a great opportunity of winning this year’s league title.

This will be the second meeting of the year between the sides last time out UCD had too much for DCU on the evening and the north Dublin University will be very keen to put that right this Thursday night for the DCU .

 

 

Wexford Handball Interversity

Wexford Intervarsity 2015

On the 20^th of November 13 Handballers from DCU made their way to St. Josephs Sports Complex, Wexford to compete in this year’s One Wall and 40×20 Doubles Intervarsity. It was the first year this Intervarsity was a 40×20 Doubles competition and  One Wall singles competition.

It was hard luck to the clubs former PRO, Aishling O’Keeffe, in the Women’s Open One Wall final played on Saturday evening. After a great win over Niamh Dunne (UL) in the semi-final, she was up against Ciara Mahon (TCD) in what proved to be an exciting final. Aishling showed great fight in both games but lost out 15-8, 15-10. It was Niamh Farrell who took home a gold medal for DCU in the Women’s B One Wall competition. After getting the better of Natasha Coughlan in the semi-final, in a tough final, she defeated UL’s Deirdre Purcell, 19-13.

 

Aishling and Niamh joined forces to compete in the Women’s Open 40×20 Doubles competition. The pair overcame TCD’s Ciara Mahon and Lisa McKenna in a tiebreaker semi-final 8-21, 21-15, 11-6. They then faced Ciana Ní Churraoin and Niamh Dunne of UL. But lost out on the title.

 

DCU showed great strength in the Men’s C One Wall Competition with new comer Neil Hannigan facing Kyle Duff in the semi-final. In a great display of one wall handball, Kyle won himself a place in the final. He narrowly lost out to Jack Roach (DIT) on a scoreline of 22-16. Kyle also played in the Men’s C 40×20 Doubles competition with Eimear Delaney. The pair had a good win over Carlow IT to secure themselves a place in the final. They lost out on gold to the strong UL pairing, Alexander Sheehan and Clodagh Nash, 21-1, 21-2.

All players did the college proud with DCU showing great fight in all games. Particularly new comers Emer Maguire, Neil Hannigan, Cormac Ó Maoldúin and Wayne Kinsella. A great weekend was had by all with thanks to committee members for organising registration and accommodation for the weekend. Also a huge thank you to all players who competed; John Walsh, Aishling O’Keeffe, Eimear Delaney, Cormac Ó Maoldúin, Neil Hannigan, Kyle Duff, Ryan Treanor, Jamie Joyce, Cian Ó Dálaigh, Corey Fay, Emer Maguire, Niamh Farrell and Wayne Kinsella.