TU Dublin in the way as UCC target Ashbourne final spot

The promotional tagline for this year’s Electric Ireland Camogie Third-Level Championships is ‘First-Class Rivals’, highlighting how playing at college level brings one into contact with stars from other counties, with whom they would otherwise not play.

For former Kilkenny player and third-level camogie ambassador Miriam Walsh, the Waterford IT [now SETU Waterford] Ashbourne Cup win of 2015 remains a special memory and she was glad to have Cork’s Laura Treacy on her team rather than against her for a change.

“We beat UL in the final,” she says, “it was just a brilliant weekend.

“As they say, first-class rivals, you're kind of making unexpected friendships. You're playing with your rivals and playing against your friends so it's a fantastic competition.
“I was actually playing with Laura Treacy from Cork. She was centre-back on our team and I would have marked her a good bit against Cork, so we were great friends, myself and Laura. But then when you're playing against her with county it's different.

“But no, she was a tremendous leader and it was so good to play with Laura. I learned so much from her. And Meighan Farrell from Kilkenny, she was on our team as well and Trish Jackman from Waterford, so we had a strong team. It was very good.
“We won it in 2015 and we got to the final the following year. UL have been the strong campaigners really and TUD, so WIT haven't really been on the map since.”

As mentioned by Walsh, her alma mater are not at the business end of this year’s Ashbourne, which concludes this weekend with the semi-finals and final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.

From a Cork point of view, UCC are involved, with wins over MTU Cork and the University of Galway in January earning them a direct passage to a semi-final spot. That is against TU Dublin at 3pm today, following the other last-four tie, which sees the University of Limerick taking on the University of Galway.

Clodagh Finn has been in scintillating form for Jerry Wallace’s side, scoring 1-7 in the big win over MTU in the Cork derby and then eight points a fortnight ago as Galway were seen off on a 1-20 to 1-6 scoreline.

Aside from the Fr O’Neills star, fellow All-Ireland winners with Cork Méabh Murphy (Ballinora), Aoife Healy (Aghada) and Emma Murphy (Glen Rovers) are likely to be key if UCC are to end their long wait for the inter-varsity title.

Since claiming a 32nd title in 2003, UCC have been in eight finals but victory has proven elusive on each occasion. The most recent appearance in the decider was two years ago, when they lost by a point to TU Dublin in Belfield.

The final of the Ashbourne takes place on Sunday at 3pm. In the second-tier Purcell Cup semi-finals today, UL take on SETU Carlow while Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College do battle with Queens University of Belfast. That final is on Sunday at 1pm, preceded by the Fr Meaghair Cup final at 11am, with Ulster University or DCU meeting UL or Trinity College.

UCC squad (Cork clubs unless stated): Caoimhe Buckle (Inniscarra), Maedhbh de Búrca (Carrigtwohill), Abby Walsh (Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Clare), Méabh Murphy (Ballinora), Lorna Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary), Aoife Healy (Aghada), Meadhbh Ring (Aghabullogue), Eimear Heffernan (Knockailla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Tipperary), Orlaith Kelleher (Croagh-Kilfinny, Limerick), Emma Murphy (Glen Rovers), Isobel Sheehan (Éire Óg), Lizanna Boylan (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), Emma Dempsey (Glynn-Barntown, Wexford), Clodagh Finn (Fr O’Neills), Sarah O’Brien (Templeglantine, Limerick), Laura Leenane (Shannon Rovers, Tipperary), Aoife Hurley (St Catherine’s), Avril Cashman (Youghal), Grace Moloney (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Orlaith Mullins (Sarsfields), Miriam Murphy (Silvermines, Tipperary), Eimear Duignan (Mallow), Anna Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Lily Fahie (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Onelia Whelan (Ring, Waterford), Cliona Dooley (Ballinora), Niamh O’Regan (St Catherine’s), Sarah Murphy (Cork), Rebecca Grealish (Oranmore-Maree, Galway), E Fitzpatrick (Fr O’Neills), Áine Devlin (Killarney, Kerry), Anna Hickey (Modeligo, Waterford), Erin O’Donnell (Oranmore-Maree, Galway).