UCC too strong for University of Galway in Ashbourne Cup to make it two wins from two games

UCC 1-20 

University of Galway 1-6

UCC continued their Ashbourne Cup campaign with their second win in the competition with a 1-20 to 1-6 victory over University of Galway at The Mardyke on Tuesday night.

Last week they destroyed MTU Cork and tonight, they were too good for University of Galway.  It is going to take a very good team to stop them in this current form.

Cork star Clodagh Finn stole the show by tallying 0-8 which brings her total for the competition to 1-15 after two outings.

That followed an emphatic victory over local rivals MTU Cork on opening night, while the University of Galway started out with a 2-18 to 1-6 hammering of DCU.

The home side picked up where they left off at the derby with an early goal chance for Isobel Sheehan flashing just wide inside the first minute.

Finn followed that up by splitting the posts from play and her second, from a free, gave UCC an early two point lead.

Another brace by the Fr. O’Neill’s club stalwart gave the home side a 0-4 to nothing advantage before Sabina Rabbitte opened the University of Galway’s account.

Finn and Meabh Murphy combined seconds later to stretch UCC’s cushion out to 0-6 to 0-1.

Then Galway got a penalty over a foul on Sabina Rabbitte and the forward’s effort from the spot was stopped by Caoimhe Buckley.

Orlaith Kelleher retaliated after UCC won the puck-out and the gap between the two teams widened when Liz Ann Boylan hit the back of the net with a venomous strike at the 22nd minute.

At 1-7 to 0-1, the home side were firmly in control even with Galway raising three white flags before the break. 

UCC held firm and went into half-time leading 1-9 to 0-4 thanks to a late rally by Emma Murphy and Finn.

Boylan put over her only point within seconds of the restart and Sheehan got another as Galway scrambled to ignite a comeback.

Suddenly it was 1-11 to 0-4 and UCC went up another level with a burst triggered by a Finn free. 

Tipperary’s Eimear Heffernan and Meabh Ring were on target to pad a cushion that was growing bigger and bigger at the 40th minute.

Galway did get the next score, a well worked goal from Sabina Rabbitte following a neat passing play.

That made it 1-14 to 1-4, but there was no big finish as Miriam Murphy and Avril Cashman announced their arrivals with white flags, with Sheehan ending the proceedings from the 45.

Scorers for UCC: C Flynn 0-8 (3f); L Ann Boylan 1-1, I Sheehan 0-3, Mirian Murphy 0-2, Meabh Murphy, O Kelleher, E Murphy, E Heffernan, M Ring, A Cashman all 0-1.

University of Galway: S Rabbitte 1-2; L Kelly 0-3 (1f), C Dolan 0-1.

UCC: C Buckley; M De Burca, A Walsh, M Murphy, L Ryan, A Healy, M Ring, E Heffernan, O Kelleher, E Murphy, I Sheehan, L Ann Boylan, E Dempsey, C Finn, S O’Brien.

Subs: A Cashman for De Murca (25); G Murphy for Heffernan (47), Miriam Murphy for E Murphy (47), A Hurley for Dempsey (49), L Leanne for Buckley (53).

Galway University: L Freeney; E Baker, S Lyons, R Kelly, Ally Hesnan, T Fitzgerald, J Daly, N McPeake, O Rabbitte, C Hickey, L Kelly, T Canning, M Dillion, S Rabbitte, C Dolan.

Subs: K Coleman for Canning (40); C Kelly for O Rabbitte (50), E O’Connor for R Kelly (55). 

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada)