Victory in Galway built on solid defence

DCU Dóchas Éireann 4-9

NUIG 1-6

DCU Dóchas Éireann made it two wins from two following a comprehensive victory against NUIG in Dangan on Monday on a score line of 4-9 to 1-6. The final score doesn’t reflect the tight nature of the game in the first half where NUIG led by four points at one stage, as DCU raked up a number of wides. Captain, Mary O’Connell opened the DCU account with a well taken score, which was followed by a Kellyann Doyle score from distance before NUIG took over and led 1-3 to 0-2 after 18 minutes, when Roisin Baker snatched onto a defensive mistake and scored her first goal. The team finished off the half level, 1-4 apiece, with DCU driving forward relentlessly from their dominating half back line of Hannah Hegarty, Emer Reilly and Eva Marie Elliott.

The second half opened with DCU taking full control of the game, led by a dominating Aine Woods at full back and DCU clipped points from Mairead Power and Roisin Baker, before DCU rattled the net for a second time through Claire Sexton. This allowed DCU to build a six point advantage before NUIG got on the scoreboard from a Chloe Morey free, but this was swiftly followed by two more Roisin Baker goals which helped to finish the contest and leave the DCU full forward with a personal tally of 3-1. DCU added further points from Christine Lyng and Rachel Harty as the game closed out. Manager, Mary O’Connell, will have been happy with the dogged and resolute display of the defensive as they managed to restrict NUIG to 1-1 from play over the course of the contest.

The girls now await the visit of UCC to DCU Sports ground on Wednesday 30^th (19:00), with both sides already guaranteed progression to the knockout stages, the prize at stake is a direct route to the semi final, which will be held at the GAA National Development Centre in Abbotstown on February 11th/12th.