Mayo women help drive DCU to O’Connor Cup title

FIVE Mayo footballers were part of the DCU panel that retained the most prestigious cup in ladies intervarsity football.

Maria Cannon (Burrishoole), Ciara Durkan (Knockmore), Jenna Mortimer (Hollymount), Fionnuala McLaughlin (Westport) and Alana Fitzpatrick (Claremorris) were all part of the DCU panel that beat University College Cork to win the HEC O’Connor Cup over the weekend.

Durkan, Cannon and McLaughlin started the final as DCU overcame UCC on a score of 2-11 to 1-9.

Cannon, Durkin and McLaughlin started the game, with Cannon kicking a point on a day when Meath star Emma Duggan stole the show with 1-5. Mortimer featured as a second-half substitute as the Dublin-based side secured a five-point win to secure DCU’s third consecutive O’Connor Cup title.

UCC went ahead early on before DCU DÉ kicked into life when wing-forward Clodagh Lohan poked the ball to the net from close range in the ninth. 

Mayo’s Maria Cannon pointed for the victors in advance of Emma Duggan’s speculative effort on 26 minutes slipped through the fingertips of goalkeeper Caoimhe Richmond for DCU DÉ’s second goal. 

The chasers replied with points from Leah Hallihan and Lacey to trail 2-5 to 0-7 at half-time. 

Despite a tentative start to the second half, DCU DÉ increased their lead when Kate Kenny swung over a point off her trusty left boot on 37 minutes. 

Emma  Morrissey nabbed a goal back for UCC, who remained in contention until the end but were ultimately held on for the win with the help of late points from the excellent Duggan and Clodagh Lohan.

RUNNERS-UP

ELSEWHERE, there was plenty of Mayo involvement as Mary Immaculate College Limerick captured the Giles Cup.

Six Mayo players in total were involved for both sides as the teacher training college beat Saoirse Lally’s UCD 3-9 to 1-8 in the final.

Erin Murray (Ballyhaunis) kicked a point for a Mary Immaculate panel also boasting Ava Kelly (Burrishoole) and Maebh O’Shea - a sister of Mayo senior footballer Aidan O’Shea.

As well as Saoirse Lally, the defeated UCD also had her Westport teammate Sarah Mulroy and Mayo senior Emily Reape (Knockmore) in their starting team.

Despite their best efforts, a pair of second-half goals from Lydia McDonagh proved their undoing as MIC claimed their fourth AIG Giles Cup.

In a fast-paced opening to the contest, UCD full-forward Meadbh Monaghan traded an early point with her opposite number – current Kerry panellist Rachel Dwyer. The latter went on to add a second point in response to a free from Ella Parke, before UCD, who had defeated DCU at the semi-final stage of the competition on Friday, created some daylight with back-to-back scores from Westport midfielder Sarah Mulroy and Parke.

Yet MIC subsequently settled into the stride and edged in front for the first time courtesy of three points in succession by Caoimhe McNamara, Laura Griffey and Dwyer (free).

A goal from Dwyer – who featured in the Mayo ladies' recent home defeat to Kerry – helped MIC 1-6 to 0-7 half-time lead. 

UCD’s Sara Doyle pointed to make it a one-point game within 60 seconds of the restart. However, MIC Limerick re-established their authority when centre-forward McDonagh fired to the net on 32 minutes. 

Unfettered, UCD, responded with a goal from Karrie Rudde and it looked to be anyone’s game to win at this stage.

But thanks to quickfire efforts from substitute Sarah Ryan and Meadbh McDonagh, MIC took a three-point lead into the final-quarter and ultimately pushed on for victory.

Ballyhaunis and Mayo footballer Erin Murray moved them even further in front with an excellent score at a right-hand angle. That was before the result MIC Limerick e put the result beyond all doubt when McDonagh bagged her second goal at the end of a lung-bursting run in the 54th minute.