DCU Dóchas Éireann power past NUIG

Full time: DCU: 9.15, NUI Galway: 0.06

It was a cold day on the DCU Sports Grounds for the first round of the O’Connor Cup championship against NUI Galway. The match got off to a flying start as both teams were geared up and out to get their first championship win.

A quick ball won from the throw in launched into DCU’s forwards was nicely struck by Sarah (14) which gave DCU the first point of the match.

 

Galway were quick to react to this and fought back, gaining one point from play and two more from frees. DCUs defensive strategy in the first half created many opportunities for them to turn-over the ball and drive forward, getting those all-important scores, with points from Muireann, Sarah R, Siobhan W, and Niamh R.

It is fair to say that NUIG struggled to stay in touch, but with DCU’s shooting on form they lead at the break, 3.06 to 0.03. It was in the second half when DCU started to pull away, creating a wider gap in the scoreboard including a hat-trick from Sarah R, and more points from Aisling Mc,

DCU’s Aisling got taken down in the box, ultimately leading to a penalty, which was taken superbly by Sarah R adding another goal to the scoreboard.

Aisling T (goalie) was very quick on the home teams kick outs, carefully choosing and executing her kickouts. After Galway’s quick over the top kick, beating Aisling, Laura Mc’s quick thinking saved DCU from conceding a goal.

Even though DCU were leading by a mile, the girls showed no mercy, continuously adding to the scoreboard with goals from DCU’s Captain; Siobhan W, Niamh R and Sarah R.

The backs determination to not concede scores was notable. They assisted the Midfielders Rachel and Karen in the centre of the pitch, constantly driving forward and popping the quick balls into DCU’s skilled forwards. There is no doubt that DCU dominated the game from right until the final whistle, with their quick hand passes and well-executed ball work.

The girls now are preparing for round two, where they will be taking on reigning champions UCD, with home advantage, where a win will guarantee them a semi-final spot in the O’Connor Cup Championship.

DCU Vs UCD 22^nd February, DCU Sports Grounds.

Giles team roll onto Round Two

DCU 3.12 UL 2.07

The DCU Giles team commenced their championship campaign with a comprehensive victory on Thursday evening in DCU Sportsground over the University of Limerick.

After the disappointment of the league final in November, DCU got off to a flying start with Nicky Feery registering a point with 30 seconds on the timer. Shortly after, Marion Farrelly produced the first of three DCU goals, with Nicky Feery again hitting the target a mere five minutes later.

UL were kept in the game with a flurry of frees registered within a scoreable distance which reduced the margin. It wasn’t until the 33rd minute when they were awarded a penalty which was slotted marginally past the DCU netminder Emer Ní Éafa.

Despite this, DCU kept the scoreboard ticking over and remained ahead to see out the game. A late goal for UL in the 60th minute could not provide any consolation and in the end, it was DCU who held tight for their first championship victory of the season.

Moynihan Cup open their season with hard fought win over UCD

The first round fixture for the Moynihan Cup was a repeat of last year ‘s semi-final. The difference this time, the result.

 

UCD were hot favourites going into the game after having won the league title pre-Christmas and it was them who started the stronger hitting 1.1 without reply, DCU got on the scoreboard with points from Keely Doonan, Roisin McHugh, captain Leanne Duncan, and a well worked goal from Wexford’s Mairead Moran.

UCD missed a number of chances in front of goal, but with DCU’s shooting on form they lead at the break, 1.8 to 2.2.
DCU were against the wind in the second half and it took them time to settle back into the game, the south-siders started stronger, but attacking half back Jen O’Dell got DCU back on the scoreboard and with DCU’s forwards winning valuable possession from the UCD kick outs the match was in the balance. With 5 minutes to go,  a McHugh free and a point from Eimear Byrne in the last 3 minutes meant this Championship match was going to extra time, so that a winner could be found.

 

DCU showed passion, heart and character, knowing it would take everything to get passed the Division 4 league Champions. Keely Doonan was substituted after a head injury and Vicky Prendergast made her present notice with an excellent point. DCU got 2 points to UCD’s 1 in extra time, meaning they start their journey #IntotheWest with a 1.16 to 3.8 win in Belfield.

 

After the game, DCU coach Eanna O’Conchuir spoke very highly of his team and paid tribute to the UCD side, after the game he said, ‘ I am very proud of the teams’ effort, the girls never dropped the head, they showed how much they wanted the win. Fair play to UCD, they put up a tough battle, it could have gone either way in the end.’

 

The team now turn their focus now turn to Letterkenny IT, when they travel next week, a win guaranteeing them a semi-final spot in the Moynihan Cup on March 10th in the Connacht Centre of Excellence.

Fresher Hurlers win out following strong second half in Dangan

 

DCU Dóchas Éireann produced a strong second half display to march on to a semi final next week in the Fresher A hurling Championship. Due to strong winds it appeared that a game of two halves was to be played out and when NUIG were only a point a drift at half time 0-10 to 2-3, it looked like the Galway outfit would push on.

DCU struggled in the first half to take full advantage of the wind as they struck a number of wides from play, but the free taking of Edmund Delaney and some fine scores from John Donnelly kept the contest tights. DCU responded well to both Galway goals and the game appeared in the melting pot as DCU faced the wind.

DCU opened the second half well with scores coming from Colin Currie, Ciaran Dowling and John Donnelly all registering. DCU managed to open up a gap with a Colin Currie goal and it proved difficult for NUIG to close. They relied heavily on Shane Fletcher for scores but DCU managed to shut up shop and a late Edmund Delaney goal put gloss on the sideline, as it finished 2-20 to 2-9.

 

DCU Handball Changing of the Guard

This year’s 40×20 Singles Intervarsity in Kingscourt represented in many ways a changing of the DCU handballing guard. Three of the four DCU finalists managed to reach this stage in their maiden 40×20 singles Intervarsity, a sign of many good things in the coming four years for these new players.

In the men’s competitions DCU were represented in the A, B, C & Challenger Finals by Kevin Diggins, Ben Devlin, Ryan Treanor & Aaron Kinsella respectively. Kevin saw off ICHA veterans Ciarán Buckley from UCC, Conor Noone & Darren Carter of NUIG and UCD’s Brian Mahon to reach the final where Keith Armstrong from NUIM awaited him. In a fine display of passing shots and corner kills Kevin took the title on a score-line of 21-20 21-14. Ben Devlin was dominant in the men’s B singles overcoming all competition without dropping a single game, Devlin’s well deserved gold medal came at the expense of ITT’s Cian Counihan who had no answer for Devlin’s consistency. Club secretary Ryan Treanor found himself in a familiar position on Sunday morning, that being the men’s C singles final. Ryan, having won the same competition in his first year representing the college, unfortunately came up just short on the day losing out narrowly to Michael Dunne of CIT. Aaron Kinsella, returning to the courts from a hurling inspired hiatus, showed that he had retained much of the skill of his youth in claiming the men’s challenger crown. He narrowly overcame fellow DCU student Alan Hevehan in what was otherwise a dominant performance from the Wicklow man. One final mention must be made for Niall Joyce, DCU’s representation in the Open Singles, Niall found himself pitted against UL’s Colin Crehan, this year’s beaten finalist, in the Quarter final. In Niall’s first year in the competition he pushed Crehan to the brink losing the first game by the narrowest of margins 21-20.

We had slightly less luck in the women’s competitions where the semi-finals proved to be a universal stumbling block. Aishling O’Keeffe lost out to eventual winner of the women’s open Cianna Ni Churraoin in her semi-final, Meadhbh Ni Dhalaigh lost out narrowly to UCD’s Clodagh Nash in the women’s A semi-final and both beaten finalists in the women’s B competition were DCU students, Eimear Ni Dhubhlaine and Niamh Farrell.

This weekend’s results are, in particular for our contingent bound for Phoenix Arizona to participate in the USHA Collegiate Nationals, very promising. With all of our freshers reaching the advanced stages of competition and in most cases bringing home medals there can only be more to come over the next few years. Congratulations to all players involved in what was the strongest DCU display at the 40×20 intervarsity singles for the past several years.