UL WERE IN devastating form as they beat DCU by 3-16 to 0-9 to claim the O’Connor Cup for the second year in a row at Cork IT.
The champions, featuring 13 of last year’s successful side, looked to be in for a challenging afternoon as an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead was wiped out when DCU had points from Carol Hegarty, Sarah Rowe and Lorraine O’Shea.
A penalty from Roisín Leonard put UL back in front in the 16th minute, however, and they led from there, with 1-9 to 0-6 the half-time score.
Driven on by Jennifer Grant and Lorraine Scanlon at midfield, they continued to build the lead in the second half, with two goals in six minutes from Áine Tighe leaving them 3-10 to 0-7 ahead.
From there, it was a procession as Leonard, sub Claire O’Sullivan, player of the game Niamh O’Dea and Aileen Wall all featured on the scoreboard, with DCU limited to two Rowe points in the final quarter.
Earlier, Trinity College beat Athlone IT by 1-16 to 1-9 in the second-tier Giles Cup while there was some consolation for DCU as they overcame DIT on a 2-13 to 1-10 scoreline in the Lynch Cup.
St Patrick’s College were the Donaghy Cup champions, beating Liverpool Hope University by 5-10 to 0-1.
In yesterday’s semi-finals, Sarah Rowe scored 1-7 as DCU overcame UCC. DCU, aiming to match the achievements of their male counterparts, who won the Sigerson Cup last month, triumphed on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-15, with a late goal from Lindsay Peat providing the clincher.
UL, despite missing manager DJ Collins for the first half as he was attending his brother’s wedding, triumphed by 4-14 to 0-8, having led by 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time.
Zebo and Earls connected so well all game.
Zebo and Murray connect better.
Hahahaha you beat me to it!!
No. But it would have been deservedly replayed a few times.
It would have been. cracking try….
Regardless of the opposition, it was a sublime piece of individual skill to grace any game against any opponents. He was b@stard unlucky with his footing and tried his best advice time.
*tried his best at the time
His pass for Earls try was fantastic as well. He has great creativity, game intelligence and playmaking qualities which aren’t often credited to him or if they are they’re under the bracket of “X-Factor”, sometimes he’s wasted on the wing though Schmidt seems more and more to be trying to get him in as first receiver.
Shush Rochelle! You just might get Leinster fans buying into the idea of picking the best backs for their best positions!
Yeah, Leinster fans hate good back play.
You’ve been waiting a while like
He is great going forward, don’t think u can say the same when he is going the other way.
Ah, that ole chestnut rears its ugly head yet again.
Disaster had Zebo for 1st try scorer
No. Opposition not strong enough.
ah for foots sake !
Ah stop would ya!