WIT 0-11 NUIG 0-4
Ashbourne Cup Report
The opening game in Ashbourne 2012 between visitors NIUG and home side WIT on Wednesday (Jan 26th) was a much closer encounter than the score-line suggests. Both halves were marked by some good passages of play with each team having to contend with a very strong breeze, making playing conditions difficult.
NUIG got off to a great start with some great combination play between the centre field partnership of Ashling Dunphy and Sarah Fenton, piling early pressure on the WIT defence.
Emma Comerford and Niamh Mc Grath dominated the scoring for WIT and NUIG respectively with an additional point from play by the hard working Michelle Quilty resulting in a half time score of 0-4 to 0-2 in favour of WIT.
NUI, Galway’s second half performance was much better despite the conditions and their excellent work rate was exemplified by their Captain, centre back Michaela Morkan, Catriona Lee and the very industrious Niamh Mc Grath, who tacked on two more points from frees.
WIT’s experience stood to them with well taken points by Jean Brady, Patricia Jackman and free taker Emma Comerford.
NUIG will take much heart from this encounter and pending the outfield return from injury of Chloe Morey (who lined out in goals) they will be a major force to reckon with and may yet have a major say in the penultimate stages of Ashbourne 2012 which is being hosted by WIT on February 18th and 19th.
In contrast, WIT as the reigning champions know they will need to improve with a tough tie coming up against UL, who after a great league campaign will be hotly favoured to top the group.
Teams:
NUIG: C Morey, M Heneghan, T Mc Donald, AM Mc Mahon, C Lee, M Morkan (capt), S Coen, A Dunphy, S Fenton, N Walshe, N Coen, O Duggan, A O’Reilly, N Mc Grath (0-4,frees)M Lyons; subs: E Glynn for N Walshe (22 mins), M O Callaghan for M Lyons (45 mins)
WIT: K Kenneally, R Jones, SA Fitzgerald, L Keena, P Jackman (0-1), C Dormer, A Carroll, J Brady (0-1), K Parrock, K Power (capt), M Quilty (0-2) S Farrell, M Dargan, D Gaule, E Comerford (0-7, 0-5 frees).
Referee: J Mc Cormack
