PURCELL CUP PREVIEW

All roads lead to Galway this weekend for the semi-finals and finals of the Pucell Cup and the Purcell Shield competition. Fifteen teams in total took part in this year’s Purcell competition with eight teams remaining GMIT are the hosts for what is guaranteed to be a great weekend of top-class camogie. In the first Shield semi-final hosts GMIT will be looking to book a place in the final, however they face very stiff competition in NUI Maynooth, who were beaten by Athlone IT in the qualifier. Maynooth will be looking to Maureen Finnerty and Aoife Maguire to steer them past GMIT who have quality players such as Phyllis Hayes and Martina Conroy in their side. Unfortunately the qualifier between Queens and Tralee had to be abandoned at half time during the week due to fog. Both teams will now do battle today at 3pm in Cappagh Road, Salthill with the winner facing Mary I in a cup semi-final and the defeated team taking on DCU in the second shield semi-final. DCU were finalist in the cup final last year however a narrow defeat by Mary I sees them in the shield competition, and eager to succeed. Jacinta O’Grady has proven to be in great form for Mary I this year in goals while in attack Emer Watson is a formidable asset. While DCU will hope that Lisa Ryan, Marie O’Sullivan along with Dublin senior goalkeeper Eimear Butler will aid their bid for a place in Sunday’s final. 

Current Purcell cup holders Athlone IT will be hoping for a successful weekend in Galway as they strive to claim back-to-back titles. It will be a tough feat as their opponents in Saturday’s semi-final are DIT who have recorded two wins in the competition to date over St.Mary’s and GMIT. Wexford duo Deirdre Codd and Stella Nolan will line out for DIT on Saturday while Athlone IT have Galway senior player Sarah Noone at center back and fellow Galway native Linda Gohery also in defence. Unfortunately Athlone will be without the services of Nicola Lawless who suffered a serious neck injury in training recently, and everyone in Camogie wishes her a speedy recovery. In the other semi-final Mary I will have to await the outcome of the re-fixed game between Queens and Tralee.

There are eight teams going into the semi-finals on Saturday determined for victory. The winners will have the additional bonus of the opportunity to line out in Pearse Stadium on Sunday and a chance of bringing home silverware. 

All the fixtures are as follows,

PURCELL WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY 16TH February 08

SHIELD SEMI-FINAL

(1)  GMIT V NUI Maynooth
Time: 12.00pm
Venue: Liam Mellows GAA Club Ballyloughane
Referee:  Rita Coen

(2) DCU V QUB/IT TRALEE
Time: 1.00pm
Venue:  Mervue GAA Club
Referee:  Joe O’Donnell

CUP SEMI-FINALS

(1) DIT V AIT
Time:  1.30pm
Venue:  Liam Mellows GAA Club, Ballyloughane
Referee:   Eamon Brown
 

(2) Mary I V QUB/IT Tralee
Time: 2.00 pm
Venue: Mervue GAA Club
Referee: Fintan Mc Namara

FINAL DAY – SUNDAY 17TH February

(1)  SHIELD FINAL
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Pearse Stadium
Referee: Eamon Brown

(2) CUP FINAL
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Pearse Stadium
Referee: Fintan Mc Namara

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