Saoirse McCarthy helps MTU Cork to Purcell Cup
MTU Cork celebrate with the Purcell Cup. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
INSPIRED by Cork star Saoirse McCarthy and helped by two first-half goals which set the foundation, MTU were crowned Electric Ireland Purcell Cup champions in UCD.
Galway settled quickly and had opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter but with the MTU defense tightening up considerably UG began to feel the pressure.
Ella Wigginton-Barrett had the opening goal on 16 minutes and it gave MTU a lead they held to the final whistle.
Keeping on the pressure MTU won a penalty and with Saoirse McCartan dispatching it to the net, they opened up a five-point lead and stretched it out even more with a point. MTU were 2-5 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.
UG made a great start to the second half hitting two points without reply and that cut the gap to three points, but MTU responded with Orlaith Cahalane and Saoirse McCarthy adding two more points.
UG began to win frees, Laura Kelly converted two and the gap was back to three.
Holding their composure MTU dug deep. Captain Saoirse McCarthy was superb. Winning a second penalty they went to finish the job but Fiona Ryan denied McCartan a second goal with a good save.
The sides then swapped points before a late Lauren Homan point gave UG no way back and saw MTU crowned deserving champions.
Captain Saoirse McCarthy was named as the Player of the Match.
S McCartan 1-2 (0-1 pen, 0-1 f), S McCarthy 0-4 f, L Wigginton-Barrett 1-0, L Homan 0-2, H O'Leary, O Cahalane 0-1 each.
L Kelly 0-10 ( 0-9 f), T Canning, T Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
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