UCC out of O'Connor Cup after extra time loss to TUD
UCC's Leah Hallihan breaks from TUD's Ashling Nyhan during the AIG Ladies HEC O'Connor Cup semi-final at The Mardyke. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Heartbreak for UCC as they lost out to TUD in the semi-final of the AIG Ladies HEC O’Connor Cup at the Mardyke on Wednesday night.
It was a close game all through, and an extra-time goal and point from Caoimhe Cregg proved to be the vital scores for the winners after a highly entertaining game.
UCC will be disappointed with their overall display as they hit more than 10 wides on the night, and they will know you can’t do that at this level if you are to come out on top.
Some of that was down to a superb defensive display by TUD, who played a zone defence around the arch and made it very difficult for UCC to break through it.
TUD did all the early running and took the lead in the fourth minute when Katie Murphy pointed.
They doubled their lead three minutes later when Ciara Smyth scored from distance. She added another to see TUD leading by 0-3 to no score after 10 minutes.
That became a four-point lead when Angela McGuigan pointed as UCC had yet to get going.
A quick ball from Aine O’Neill to Emily Lacey got UCC off the mark, with Smyth replying at the other end.
Lacey got her second from a free, with Brid McMaugh getting UCC’s third as they were now much more in the game.
Lacey pointed to put one between the sides, 0-5 to 0-4 and with 22 minutes gone, the home side were back on level terms.
A sweeping move from midfield, involving Kate Redmond and Emma Morrissey, saw McMaugh get her second to make it 0-5 each.
Redmond pointed from a free for UCC as they took the lead for the first time, before Caoimhe Cregg had TUD back on level terms.
Just before half time, UCC went back in front, when Lacey scored to see them lead by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
TUD retook the lead after 38 minutes when Aoife Byrne was quickest to react to the breaking ball after Niamh Divilly’s shot came back off the post.
Divilly increased their lead to 1-6 to 0-7 before Morrissey replied for UCC.
Smyth pointed from a free for TUD, and Divilly pointed again to put them 1-9 to 0-8 in front.
UCC’s Grace Murphy had a shot on goal well saved by Niamh Byrne, but with their next attack, they found the back of the net.
Abigail Ring scored the vital goal, to make it 1-8 to 1-9, and with the last kick of the game, Lacey equalised to take it to extra time.
Smyth and Ella O’Dell scored for TUD, with O’Neill replying for UCC to see the Dublin college in front by 1-11 to 1-10 at half-time in extra time.
Then Cregg scored a superb goal with an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to put four between the sides. She followed up with a point to make it 2-12 to 1-10. O’Neill pulled a point back, and late on, Lacey goaled for UCC, but TUD stood strong to reach the final after a highly entertaining game.
E Lacey 1-5 (1f), A Ring 1-0, A O’Neill 0-3, B McMaugh 0-2, E Morrissey 0-1 (f).
C Gregg 1-2, A Byrne 1-0, C Smyth 0-5 (1f), N Divilly 0-2, K Murphy, A McGuigan, E O’Dell 0-1 each.
S Murphy (Bride Rovers); N Martin (Sliabh Na mBan, Tipperary), E Power (St Pat’s, Waterford), D Kiniry (Lisgoold); A Corcoran (Erin’s Own), S McGoldrick (Éire Óg), N Martin (Sliabh Na mBan, Tipperary); A Healy (Cloyne), K Redmond (Kinsale); A O’Neill (Kilrossanty Brickey’s, Waterford), E Morrissey (Aherlow, Tipperary), R Ennis (Naomh Ciaran, Offaly); L Hallihan (Bride Rovers), E Looney (St Joseph’s, Laois), B McMaugh (Ballymacarbery, Waterford).
A Ring (Aghada) for L Hallihan (35), G Murphy (Naomh Aban) for R Ennis, R Rahilly (Ballymacelligott, Kerry) for N Martin both 45, K Smith (Aghada) for B McMaugh (73).
N Byrne (Trinity Gaels); S El Masry (Westport, Mayo), G Gavin (Louisburgh, Mayo), A Nyhan (St Brigid’s); S Daly (Lucan Sarsfields), N Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonbeirne, Galway), D Egan (Kilmacud Crokes); E Crowne (Oola, Limerick), C Smyth (Skryne, Meath); C Cregg (Boyle, Roscommon), A McGuigan (St Sylvester’s), A King (Blessington, Wicklow); A Byrne (Castleknock), N Byrne (Cuala), K Murphy (Westmanstown Gaels).
E O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street) for S Daly (45).
Paddy Smith, Waterford.
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