Ashbourne Shield Previews

Ashbourne hosts CIT will be hoping to take some silverware from the weekend and they will begin by taking on 2009 Purcell Cup winners AIT. Both teams suffered heavy defeats in their quarter-final fixtures and the team who has recovered best and put in the most work will be victorious on Saturday. CIT will carry the favourites tag going into the match and with players such as Elaine O’Riordan, Julie McGrath and Michelle Browne plus home advantage CIT will be confident of reaching Sunday’s final. AIT have made huge strides in college camogie over the past number of years and they will be hoping to put up a good performance.  Athlone have lost many of last year’s winning team and are unable to rely on the prolific Arlene Watkins from Offaly. They are however a balanced team and CIT wont have it all their own way.  

CIT –V- AIT
Time: 11.30am
Pitch: 1
Ref: Fintan McNamara

UL – V – NUIG

After a crushing semi-final defeat to UCC, UL will be hoping to make their mark on the Ashbourne Shield. In a repeat of last year’s Shield final UL will be looking for revenge and with star players such as Aine Lyng and Mary Ryan they will carry the favourites tag. NUIG are backboned by the talented Michaela Morkan and their attack is led by Galway inter-county star Niamh Kilkenny. NUIG will be hugely disappointed with their quarter-final performance against UCD and will feel they have a point to prove in the Shield especially when they are defending champions they wont want to relinquish their title. NUIG will need to be at their very best to overcome UL and they will need to keep a close eye on Waterford’s Aine Lyng.  The outcome of this match could be determined by the centre backs – if Michaela Morkan can dominate then NUIG can push on for success while if UL’s Mary Ryan can dominate then UL should be competing in the Ashbourne Shield final on Sunday.

UL –V- NUIG
Time: 3.00pm
Pitch: 4
Ref: Eamonn Browne

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