Waterford IT launch 2012 Ashbourne & Purcell Cup Competitions
Waterford Institute of Technology launched the Ashbourne & Purcell Cup competitions last night (Monday, Feb 6th) with President of the Camogie Association and Chairman of CCAO Shane D’Arcy amongst those in attendance.
Aside from hosting the prestigious third level competitions, WIT is bidding for an unprecedented four-in-a-row Ashbourne Cup titles. This year’s competitions take place on the weekend of February 18th & 19th with over 400 camogie players, from third level institutions expected to attend the south east venue.
Speaking at last night’s launch President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn said:
"The Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Competitions provide plenty of top class camogie action played by players who are fantastic ambassadors for the game of camogie. It is the sporting ambition of all college playing camogie players to win either an Ashbourne or a Purcell All Ireland medal, and the weekend of the 18th and 19th of February will be no different with the country’s leading colleges vying for these prestigious titles.
It is always interesting to read and hear discussed the relationship between sport and academic achievement. The evidence certainly supports the adage of a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and that’s important for players, coaches and parents to remember.
For Camogie players, your time in College will give you the skills and competencies to take on professional and leadership roles in our communities. Your time in Colleges’ Camogie will also be useful. Through it you can gain wonderful opportunities also to gain skills and abilities that will be of practical use to you in your personal and working lives. Team work, fair play, respect for others and balancing work and fun will always be useful to you!”
Chairman of CCAO Shane Darcy said:
"The Ashbourne-Purcell weekend is one of the premier events in the camogie calendar with over 400 camogie players taking part. I wish all of the 18 teams a wonderful weekend of sport.
It is a very exciting and busy time for all involved in third level camogie and I would like to take the opportunity to thank Conor Phelan and Sheila O’Donohue for their hard work to date and wish them and their organizing team at Waterford the very best for hosting the 2012 weekend."
Last night’s launch marks a crucial week in the group stages of the Ashbourne Cup. Hosts WIT are the only side guaranteed their place in the semi-final. University of Limerick and NUI Galway must battle it out for the remaining semi-final spot in Group 2. In Group 1 University College Dublin will be anxiously awaiting the result of the final game as University of Ulster Jordanstown face 2011 finalists University College Cork, with a victory vital to securing the Ulster side’s place in this year’s finals.
The management team of Waterford IT includes Wexford and Oulart-the-Ballagh stars Helena and Ursula Jacob, the latter captaining the side to Ashbourne Cup victory in 2010.
Kilkenny attacker Katie Power, the Captain of this year’s Waterford IT side says Waterford IT is delighted to host this year’s competition.
"Waterford IT camogie club is once more delighted to host the blue riband of third level camogie – an event that is second only to the All-Ireland senior camogie title race. I would like to wish all players, managers, officials and spectators a very enjoyable and successful weekend.”
The host college had a number of barren years before welcoming a plethora of inter-county stars which has resulted in three Ashbourne Cups in-a-row in 2011.
Gaelic Games Officer Conor Phelan welcomes the highlight of third level camogie to Waterford expressing a wish that all teams in the Ashbourne and Purcell Cups play to their optimum and bring from Waterford memories of participation and enjoyment long after the games have ended.
Notes:
o Comhairle Chamógaíochta um Ard-Oideachas (CCAO the Higher Education Camogie Council)
o This year’s Ashbourne, Purcell and Fr. Meachair Finals (third level university competitions) take place in Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford February 18th and 19th.
o Waterford Institute of Technology are the current holders of the Ashbourne Cup; Queens University Belfast is the current holders of the Purcell Cup and NUI Maynooth are current holders of the Fr. Meachair Cup.
o Ashbourne Cup – 1st Division CCAO Championship
o Purcell Cup – 2nd Division CCAO Championship
o Fr. Meachair – 3rd Division CCAO Championship
o For information on third level camogie match fixtures check out www.ccao.ie
Pictured at last night’s launch: Shane D’Arcy, CCAO Chair, Sheila O’Donohoe, WIT Camogie Club, Joan O’Flynn, President of the Camogie Association, Sinead Nealon, WIT GAA Club Secretary, Ruardhri Neavyn, WIT President, Jacqui O’Connor, WIT Camogie Club, Kate Kelly, WIT Camogie Club, Eugene McKenna, WIT GAA Club Chairman, Conor Phelan, WIT GAA Development Officer.
•For further information contact Fionnuala Carr, CCAO PRO, mobile: +353 86 2372203 email:pro.thirdlevel.camogie@gaa.ie
