DCU come up short in O’Connor Cup

Ladies Football Update

 

The O’Connor Cup team just came up short in their bid to win the O’Connor Cup as UL got on the right side of the result as they won 3-4 – 1-8 . Despite this result DCU really put in a great effort and they lead at the break 0-6 -1-1 with some excellent points coming from Eabha Rutledge  and Sarah Rowe among the scores in the opening half while Lauren Magee was having an excellent game at midfield .

Unfortunately from a DCU perspective it was UL who dominated the opening 15 minutes of the second half bas they netted further two times to put them in control of the match but DCU who won the league earlier in the year never gave up and really tried hard to come back and win the match and goal from Sarah Rowe with 1 minute to play left only two points between the sides but unfortunately time was against Stephen Maxwell’s side.

 

Meanwhile The Moynihan Cup recently booked a place in the Semi Final of the competition with hard fought victory over Garda College in the final round of the group stages with 2-13 – 1-12 victory in Templemore which ensured they finished second in the group instead of Mary I. The DCU team will have to make the short journey to UCD on Thursday as they bid to make the final of the first ever Moynihan Cup when they take on UCD in Befield. Management and players will be hopeful of making the final after the hard working display against Garda College last time out.  

O’Connor Cup Weekend Preview

The wait is nearly over for Stephen Maxwell’s side as their bid to land the O’Connor Cup will begin against reigning Champions UL on Friday in Tralee. DCU who have had a mixed bag so far in the championship, coming up short against UCC, however they did respond well against MU in a match they had to win to keep themselves in the competition and just proved too strong for Queens in their final group game.

 

The league campaign was one which will be remembered very well in DCU as they started off with couple of fine victories until they came across a fine UCD side who proved far too strong for DCU on the evening and as result of that DCU finished second in the group which ensured a meeting for DCU against UL which was played in DCU. In a very entertaining contest in November where the weather wasn’t the best it was DCU who prevailed and booked a place in the Final against rivals UCD where the game was played in Belfield. On that night Aisling Tarpey was outstanding pulling off number of world class saves which lead to the team itself getting confidence throughout the pitch as DCU got the better of UCD on the night as Siobhan Woods who missed the game through injury lifted the Cup as DCU would the league for the first in number of years.

Turning to Friday, DCU will be taking on their old rivals UL in the Semi Final of the competition. DCU will not be able to call on League Final hero Aisling Tarpey through injury which means Emer Ni Eafa gets her chance to show how good she really is as player. Meanwhile DCU will be delighted that fully fit again captain Siobhan Woods is back fit again and gives DCU a huge boost going into Friday’s O’Connor Cup Semi Final, in a game which will see former player Clodagh Mc Menneman playing against her old teammates. UL will sure be going in as favourites to the game on Friday as reigning O’Connor Cup Champions and will feel they are good enough to come out on top once again. But DCU will feel that they have prepared very well for the weekend and will hope they can get over the line against UL.

Meanwhile UCC take on UCD in the other Semi Final and both will be feel that they have chance of making Saturday’s final against DCU or UL. Both teams had a very good league campaign and UCD got the better of UCC in the league Semi Final and will be bidding to do the same on Friday. Nevertheless these should be two cracking contests with an exciting Final to look forward on Saturday.

Fresher Hurlers lose out to CIT in Championship Final

A ten minute spell at the start of the second half where CIT racked up four unanswered point was the difference between the sides in yesterdays encounter in Cork. This spell allowed CIT to open up a seven point advantage that was a hurdle too far for the battling DCU side.

DCU opened the game the better of the two sides and settled into the game well with the opening two points from Harry O’Connor and Jason Byrne, both of whom were a constant threat throughout the game. CIT settled into the game well and they were assisted as Eoghan Conroy, who entered the game carrying a knock had to leave the field in the 10th minute, allowing CIT to gain some momentum and they managed to score a fantastic goal from lively corner forward Liam O’Keeffe, who volleyed to the net following a good turnover by the CIT forwards. the sides exchanged points as the first half wore on, as Matthew Joyce and Gary Tynan both found their range for DCU. The scoreline of 1-6 to 0-6 at half time left DCU in a good position as they were due to play with the elements for the second half.

However, the opening ten minute spell of the second half was dominated by CIT as they managed to go 1-10 to 0-6 ahead. DCU to their credit upped the ante and the intorduction of Sean Quinn and Paul Kelly helped their cause, as they landed a number of fine scores from Gary Tynan and a massive score by Aaron Maddock, who was outstanding throughout, to reduce the deficit to two points with five minutes remaining and DCU looked to have all the momentum.  But CIT managed to get a score against the run of play and managed to hold out for the win.

It was a disappointing result for the DCU, as they came out on the losing side in both the League and Championship finals, but great credit must go to this group of players and management as they dealt with a huge amount of set backs throughout the year in terms of injury and performed with great character. It was a first for a DCU side to reach an ‘A’ All Ireland final and it is expected that a number of the panel will progress to Fitzgibbon level in the coming years.

Scorers for CIT: Liam O’Keeffe (1-7, 6fs), Robert Long (0-2), Andy Molumby (0-2), Ronan Heffernan (0-1), Shane Cummins (0-1).

Scorers for DCU: Gary Tynan (0-4, 1f), Jason Byrne (0-3, 2fs), Harry O’Connor (0-3), Aaron Maddock (0-2), Matthew Joyce (0-1).

CIT

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig, Cork)

2. Kevin Galvin (Clara, Kilkenny)
3. Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen, Limerick)
4. Diarmuid Feeney (Tullordon, Kilkenny)

5. Eoin Healy (Ballymartle, Cork)
6. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside/Ballinnacourty, Waterford)
7. John Buckley (Lixnaw, Kerry)

8. Conor Browne (James Stephens, Kilkenny)
9. Ronan Heffernan (Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary)

10. Andy Molumby (Cappoquin, Waterford)
11. Kevin Duggan (Galmoy, Kilkenny)
12. Shane Cummins (Ballymartle, Cork)

13. Robert Long (Drum and Inch, Tipperary)
14. Paul Geary (Ballymartle, Cork)
15. Liam O’Keeffe (Kanturk, Cork)

Subs:
23. John Good (Tracton, Cork) for Geary (39)
17. Billy Lyons (Causeway, Kerry) for Cummins (59).

DCU

1 . Robbie Gillen (Cullion, Westmeath)

2. Conor McSweeney (South Liberties, Limerick)
3. Sean McCaw (St. Vincent’s, Dublin)
4. Darragh Brennan (Carrickshock, Kilkenny)

5. Aaron Maddock (St. Martin’s, Wexford)
6. Conor Delaney (Erin’s Own, Kilkenny )
7. Ciaran Brady (Faughs, Dublin)

8. Martin Kelly (Black & Whites, Killkenny)
9. Cathal Doran (Na Fianna, Dublin)

10. Jason Byrne (Clara, Kilkenny)
11. Liam Fahey (Rockwell Rovers, Tipperary)
12. Gary Tynan (Danesfort, Kilkenny)

13. Harry O’Connor (St Martin’s, Wexford)
14. Donnacha O’Connor (Tullogher Rosbercon, Kilkenny)
15. Eoghan Conroy (St Maurs, Dublin)

Subs:
18. Sean Hickey (Fingallians, Dublin) for Conroy (10)
22. Matthew Joyce (Fingallians, Dublin) for Kelly (27)
29. Sean Quinn (Raharney, Westmeath)  for Brennan (35)                                                             23. Paul Kelly (Carobh Chiarain, Dublin) for O’Connor (44)
30. Aaron Murphy (Shelmaliers, Wexford)for Hickey (55)

 

Fresher A Hurling Final Preview

DCU Fresher A Hurlers travel to Cork tomorrow to face Cork IT in the Fresher Championship Final, fixed for CIT @ 16:00. DCU also reached the league final in November only to lose out to a LIT team who performed better on the day, with the score finishing at 0-20 to 2-8, but they will be looking to go one step further in this game against CIT, who accounted easily for League Champions LIT in the semi final last week.

DCU will be looking to continue exhibiting the strong character which was present in their two Championship wins to date in close circumstances, as they beat a strong UCC team in the Mardyke after Extra Time on a scoreline of 2-22 to 2-20 in the Quarter Final and then they accounted for WIT in another close encounter 1-16 to 1-14. The strength of the panel despite some injuries means that manager Eoin Roche and his selectors have been able to call on a number of quality players from the line in recent games and again they will have quality players to deploy as the game develops.

DCU will be hoping that their St. Martins contingent continue their good form, while they will be looking for solid performances from a number of their players throughout the field, particularly Kilkenny trio; Conor Delaney, Gary Tynan and Jason Byrne.

Nothing will come easy from a Cork IT side, who were unlucky not to advance to the knockout stages of the league pre Christmas, as they lost out on scoring difference and who have accounted for both Mary I and LIT comfortably in their two Championship outings to date. The Leeside outfit, managed by Timmy Murphy, will be hoping to get solid performances from the likes of Conor Prunty and Conor Browne, as well as their many Cork underage stars.

It is a great opportunity for both sides to finish the year off successfully following disappointing Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns by both colleges.

Giles Cup team finish year with a narrow victory

Giles Cup Round 3
DCU      3-8
IT Sligo 3-7
@IT Sligo

(Report by Gavin Cawley)
It was an encounter played with blustery conditions throughout in Sligo, as DCU came away with a tense one point win and with that, their first ever Giles Cup victory, a fitting end to the season for James Costello’s side.

IT Sligo had the wind in the opening half and opened 0-2 to 0-0 lead after 12 minutes of play but DCU came back with two long range points to put the sides level for the first time in the match . But it looked like DCU would be the happier of the two sides when DCU found the back of the Sligo net for the first of six goals scored during the game but it was Sligo who dominated the remainder of the half, registering a very lucky goal which came from free with the aid of strong wind found the back of the net to put the hosts back in the match and two quick fire points had them in front at the break 1-5 – 1-3.

DCU who were delighted to be only two points down at the break against a very strong wind and DCU showed some great skill with two quick fire goals coming from Camoimhe O’Sullivan and a second from an excellent finish by DCU chairperson Shaunagh Brady as DCU were now in control of the match, as Aoife Norris and Michelle Noonan were dominating at midfield which meant DCU were getting plenty of scoring opportunities . It looked like DCU would win easily but an unfortunate yellow card turned the game on its head and Sligo came with 2 late goals to put gloss on the score line but in truth DCU were full value for the win. Overall it’s been a very successful season for the Giles Cup team winning Division 3 of the league and championship was a step up and a good learning curve ahead of next year, they know now what is required to make the next step .

Watch the space next year for this group of players .

Maynooth land Fresher C title

DCU Fresher C Footballers came up just short against a good Maynooth University side on Tuesday on DCU’s 4G pitch. DCU had the best of the opening quarter of the game and led by 0-7 to 0-3 after the early exchanges and looked to be the more comfortable team around the field, as Shane Rice in goal was dictating the play nicely, while Mark Daly was steady at full back, while both Emmet Rogan and Kevin Gilmore found their range in the forwards to land fine scores.

However, it was the ten minutes before half time where Maynooth managed to gain a strangle hold on proceedings and they registered 1-5 to DCU’s solitary point. This gave Maynooth a three point led at half time, despite DCU having control for the majority of the game. Maynooth also started the second half the brighter of the two teams and they opened up a six point advantage before a well worked move by DCU was completed by midfielder Elliott Craig, who got forward to good effect throughout the game, a further score by Ian Caffrey left two between the sides but this was as good as it got for the DCU lads.

Maynooth managed to land a number of scores on the bounce including a fine goal by their centre forward Ronan Gearaghty and opened up a comanding lead as the clock ticked down but DCU to their credit didn’t give up and continued to push forward in search of goals, but a number of points was the best they could muster. points from Emmet Rogan and Conor Dennehy finished off the game as the visitors won on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-11.

It was a good year for the side and the fact that they had 30 lads togged out is testament to the work carried out by the management team of Shane Carey, Simon McCoy, Conor McNally and Peter Crowley.