Waterford IT 2-13 University of Limerick 1-9
The second round game in pool A of Ashbourne 2012 was played yesterday (Wednesday, Feb 1st) in UL in which the home side and visitors WIT served up a well contested game for the strong cohort of supporters in attendance.
After a very lively start both sides exchanged scores from placed balls; Emma Comerford for WIT and Tipp senior Cait Devane for UL.
Despite the strong defending of UL captain Susan Vaughan and Maria Walsh at centre back and the hard working Bolger sisters it was WIT who managed to dominate the next quarter with two well taken goals by Marie Dargan and Emma Comerford and from placed balls by Patricia Jackman and Emma Comerford before UL added another point from a free.
Just before half time WIT captain Katie Power tacked on two good points from play. The second half very much belonged to UL who got off to a flying start and with great work by Niamh O Dea, Niamh Richardson, Cait Devane and Cork senior Julia White saw them notching up 1-2 before Patricia Jackman added to her tally for WIT from placed balls and Denise Gaule’s well worked point from play. Further points were soon exchanged for both sides by their respective top free takers; Cait Devane for UL and Emma Commerford for WIT, each pointing from the penalty spot before bringing the game to a close.
UL, put in a strong display despite the absence of full back Shona Curran, a star of Waterford’s Junior All Ireland winning side and they will take much heart from their second half display as they head into their next group game against NUIG. WIT now progress to the Cup semi finals and will know that despite some good patches of play that more will be required over the full sixty minutes if they are to secure a place in the final.
UL: S Moynihan, E Frisby, S Vaughan (capt), C Motherway, E Ryan, M Walsh, N O Dea, Lisa Bolger (1-0,free), Linda Bolger, F Keely, R Byrne, C Devane (0-9, 0-8 frees), J White, N Richardson, M Scanlon, subs: J Mulcahy for M Scanlon (20 mins) C O Leary for F Keely (24 mins)
WIT: K Keneally, R Jones, SA Fitzgerald, L Keena, P Jackman (0-4,frees), C Dormer, A Carroll, K O’ Donoghue, K Parrock, K Power (0-2), M Quilty, S Farrell, M Dargan (1-0), D Gaule (0-1), E Comerford (1-6, 0-5 frees)
Referee: Mike O Connor
UCD 2-14 UUJ 2-08
After suffering a defeat in the league UCD turned the tables on UUJ last night when they recorded a 2-14 to 2-08 victory in Round 2 of the Ashbourne Cup. Played in freezing conditions in Dublin, UCD were the stronger side in the first half with free taker Kristen Farrell proving deadly accurate from placed balls.
UUJ were always on the back foot with Denise McGrath causing havoc in the Ulster side’s defence. McGrath took advantage of UUJ’s slow start when she rifled a shot past Jordanstown’s keeper Eleanor Mallon. With joint captain Kate McDonald and Dublin’s Natalia Hyland dominant at midfield UUJ struggled to get any ball into their forward line. UCD continued to tag on a few points from frees before UUJ responded with a well taken goal from Derry star Karen Kielt, followed by a pointed free.
UCD continued to pile on the pressure with points from Kirsten Farrell, Eileen McElroy and Emma O’Connor and but for the efforts of the UUJ defence led by Sabrina Larkin it could have been worse. Dublin’s McGrath had the final say of the first half when she hit the top corner of the net for her second goal.
UUJ started the second half brightly with two points inside the opening two minutes. UCD responded with an excellent team score after the hard working Sandra Tannion provided a lay off to Eimear O’Connor who duly slotted over a point from an acute angle. UUJ responded with a point from a free, before Eileen McElroy scored after an impressive solo run through the UUJ defence.
UCD followed this up with two points from frees before UUJ responded with a point from Shannon Graham. It was score for score for the next ten minutes before UUJ sparked to life scoring 1-03 without reply. Strong running from UUJ captain Sara Louise Carr created space in the UCD defence and when Carr laid the ball off to full forward Kielt, she duly finished to the net with a hand passed goal. It proved to little too late for Jordanstown who now play UCC next week in a game, which they must win if they are to stand any chance of going through to the Ashbourne Cup semi finals.
Best on the night for UCD were Sandra Tannion, Kate McDonald, Denise McGrath and Eileen McElroy. While Tipperary native Sabrina Larkin and Lisa McPolin performed best for the Belfast side.
UCD Team: Emma Staunton, Emma Doyle, Ger Stapleton, Frances Doran, Ruth Kaiser, Leanne Fennelly (capt), Elaine Tannian, Kate McDonald (capt), Natalia Hyland, Sandra Tannian, Eileen McElroy, Denise McGrath, Eimear O’Connor, Kirsten Farrell, Emma O’Connor
UUJ Team: Eleanor Mallon, Aimee McInerney, Sarah Maguire, Rebecca Mooney, Cathy Carey, Sabrina Larkin, Lisa McPolin, Teresa McElroy, Paula Gribben, Dania Donnelly, Sara Louise Carr (Capt.), Shannon Graham, Alex McLaughlin, Karen Kielt, Niamh Donnelly.
Pictured below: WIT & Wexford player Katrina Parrock in action in last year’s 2011 Ashbourne Cup Final
