WIT collect Ashbourne crown

University of Limerick 0-4

 

WATERFORD IT were celebrating after capturing their fourth successive Ashbourne Cup title. Played on home soil in the splendid Sports Campus grounds, they were made to fight for the silverware. They didn’t get matters their own way against a resilient UL team who battled bravely only to be overtaken by the holders in the final quarter.

The turning point arrived midway through the second half when All Ireland medallist Katrina Parrock found the net. The midfielder had just switched into full forward and made no mistake finding the net from close range. Gaining momentum, Kilkenny attacker Marie Dargan added a second goal three minutes later. From there to the full whistle Waterford IT pulled away adding four unanswered points.

UL made a brave start and held the upper hand with three points on the board before WIT opened their account. To be truthful, the Limerick College should have been further ahead with Maria Walsh and Cait Devane impressing. WIT didn’t record their first score from play until the 23rd minute from Dargan. The sides were tied 0-3 apiece at half-time.

UL continued to mark tight following the resumption and were also grateful to a point-blank save from keeper Sile Moynihan. However, once Parrock rattled the net the home side’s confidence began to soar. Driven on by the powerful play of Patricia Jackman, Collette Dormer and Aisling Carroll in the half back line, Waterford IT were not going to be stopped. 

Their forward line (consisting of five Kilkenny county players) began to click. Dargan raised their second green flag on 48 minutes, followed by two massive Jackman frees and a Dargan point with two minutes left to play. Four minutes into added time Comerford signed off with her third pointed free as the cup was set to remain in WIT – a team managed by Wexford senior player Helena Jacob with her sister Ursula acting as selector along with Austin Murphy.

Scorers for WIT: M Dargan 1-2, K Parrock 1-0, E Comerford 0-3 (frees), P Jackman 0-2 (frees), D Gaule 0-1.

Scorers for UL: C Devane 0-3 (frees), M Walsh 0-1.

WIT: K Kenneally (Tipperary); R Jones (Kilkenny), S A Fitzgerald (Laois), L Keena (Offaly); P Jackman (Waterford), C
Dormer (Kilkenny), A Carroll (Tipperary); K O’Donoghue (Cork), K Parrock (Wexford); D Gaule (Kilkenny), M Quilty (do), S Farrell (do); M Dargan (do), K Power (do), E Comerford (do).

Subs: L Sinnott (Wexford) for M Quilty (62 mins), M Doyle (Wexford) for E Comerford (64).

UL: S Moynihan (Limerick); C Motherway (Cork), S Curran (Waterford), E Frisby (Kilkenny); E Ryan (Cork), S Vaughan (Clare), N O’Dea (Clare); N Richardson (Limerick), M Walsh (Cork); Lisa Bolger (Wexford), C Devane (Tipperary), R Byrne (Kilkenny); J White (Cork), M Scanlon (Clare), Linda Bolger (Wexford).

Subs: F Keely (Galway) for M Scanlon.

Referee: C Egan (Cork).

Meanwhile, goals from Aoife Bugler, Catriona Regan, Orlaith Durkan and Emma Brennan helped Dublin City University to
a 4-7 to 0-4 victory over Queen’s University Belfast in the Purcell Cup final. In the Ashbourne Shield University of Ulster Jordanstown recorded a thrilling 2-13 to 3-9 win over National University of Ireland Galway courtesy of goals from Karen Kielt and Captain Sara Louise Carr.

Cork Institute of Technology were 4-11 to 0-2 winners in the Purcell Shield final against Athlone IT with Denise Luby firing 3-4, while Mary Immaculate College Limerick were grateful to a 10-point haul from Naomi Carroll in their 0-15 to 0-3 win over St Patrick’s College Drumcondra in the Fr Meachair Cup final. St Mary’s Belfast claimed the honours in the Fr Meachair Shield decider 3-6 to 3-4 against IT Tralee.

Pictured below: WIT Captain Katie Power with the Ashbourne Cup