WATERFORD IT REIGN supreme in third level camogie again after they came out on top at the end of the Centenary Ashbourne Cup weekend at DCU.
The decider was delayed as the Purcell Cup final went to two periods of extra time and even then, there was no separating Mary Immaculate and DIT, who will meet in a replay.
This was the fourth consecutive meeting of WIT and UL in the Ashbourne Cup final, with the Limerick crew denying Waterford a remarkable six-in-a-row last year.
WIT were clearly motivated by the memory of that loss however, and with Waterford rock, Trish Jackman providing another thunderous performance on her way to being named Ashbourne player of the tournament, they chiselled out a 2-12 to 0-12 success.
First-half goals from Marie Morrissey and Ciara Quirke were central to the annexation of a sixth title in seven seasons and an eighth in total. Indeed it was a lightning double-strike as the goals came in the first and sixth minutes to rock UL on their heels.
Jackman supplemented her general dominance with four points from placed balls and Emma Comerford added three.
UL were largely reliant on Tipp sharpshooter, Cáit Devane although former Cork captain Julia White and Gráinne Egan did add scores to Devane’s six first-half points.
That left it 2-8 to 0-8 at the change of ends and given the horrible start, UL could not have been too dissatisfied. They could never eat into the deficit in a very tight second half though.
Both sides scored four points each, with Comerford bringing her tally to six points and last year’s heroine, Devane accumulating a total of nine.
They needed goals though and the WIT rearguard remained steadfast to confirm the return of the old order.
A sensational Fr Purcell Cup final ended 3-14 for DIT to Mary I’s 1-20 after two periods of extra time. Katie O’Dwyer was outstanding for DIT while Caoimhe Costello shone for Mary I. It was 2-12 to 1-15 at the end of normal time and 2-14 to 1-17 at the end of the first period of extra time.
Meanwhile, UCD launched a stunning second-half comeback to deny fellow Dublin outfit DCU and claim a 4-7 to 3-3 victory in the Ashbourne Shield final.
Jackie Quigley gave the victors a wonderful start with an eighth minute goal to establish an early four-point lead but DCU hit back with Emma Walsh and Mary O’Connell raising green flags to make it 2-2 to 1-2 at half time.
Aoife Bulger stretched DCU’s lead with another goal, two minutes into the second half but UCD found another gear to wrest the silverware from their opponents’ grasp. Quigley picked up her second major towards the end of the third quarter and the sides were level when Aoife Wilson made the game-changing contribution with two goals in the final six minutes to cement a memorable win.
Gaelic games are flourishing in IT Carlow at the moment and in the week when the footballers booked their place in the Sigerson Cup for the first time, their camogie team claimed the Fr Meachair Cup for the second year in a row with a 2-10 to 1-10 defeat of St Mary’s University.
It was 1-6 to 1-4 at half time but player of the tournament, Siobhán Flannery of Offaly fame grabbed her second goal from a free to decide the match.
In the Fr Purcell Shield final held on Saturday, Maynooth University beat Queen’s University, 2-10 to 2-7.
Kevin Long is such a weird one.
29 years old. At Burnley for nearly ten years. Presumably on a half decent wage. Comes to the side in when Ben Mee or James Tarkowski are injured and rarely puts a foot wrong at EPL level.
Never complains in the press or agitates for a transfer.
Played well again for Ireland tonight but can really only be seen as a bit part player for his country because that’s what he is for Burnley?
Couldn’t have him in ahead of Clark who’s just after battling to win his place back in Steve Bruce’s improving Newcastle side.
@Donal McGrath: every time he plays he looks like our most assured defender, and is probably the best of them on the ball. It’s a weird one alright, but if we actually want to play ball we need central defenders like him who can hold and pass the ball rather than lumping it forward after 2 or 3 sideways passes and getting themselves in trouble
@Donal McGrath: agreed regarding Kevin Long, looked solid again tonight. Clark done very well too and thought he would have been in with a chance of starting Monday potentially depending on the formation Mick goes with.
@Donal McGrath: i thought he was excellent and if i was any team coming up to the premiership that like to pass the ball out from the back hes a good option
I thought Cullen and Byrne were very good. Sadly they have no chance of starting on Monday.
Hendrick and mcclean need to prove themselves,which I doubt they will.
@Fr Romeo sensini.: agree 100%..in neither have performed well for Ireland in the last year or so…no doubting their commitment, but for me I wouldn’t start either against Denmark
Byrne should start, with more senior players around him he could really flourish. And we need to attack. Brady please no, awful display again. Missed an easy take down in the box and then gestured to someone like they had done something wrong. Maguire, good goal but overall very poor.
@Toon Army: agreed. Byrne is creative and his passing is top class. Always looking for a break. In my eyes should defo start.
@Toon Army: It’s funny how everybody sees things differently, I like Byrne but thought he was average last night, maybe even poor, whereas I thought Maguire actually looked dangerous throughout the game and got the great goal to top off a very good performance. I also liked the look of Cullen in the first half but I feel he disappeared a bit in the second. It’ll be some craic if we somehow manage to beat Denmark or get through via the qualifiers and end up at the euros with a couple of games in Dublin!!
@Shane Flanagan: agree with your analysis . Shame Cullen didn’t keep it up for full 90 , you could see his value from first half performance if he played in Danes game. Mcguire isn’t good enough for the next step up unfortunately , very poor oppo last night.I agree would be good craic but not gonna happen . A draw is as good as we can get . No real goal threat. I was really looking forward to mcGold Connolly partnership ..such a a shame
@Michael Flannery: Maguire isn’t good enough?then where does that leave Collins?
@Thomas Devlin: exactly maguire had a really good match byrne browne parrot helped him with that . brady was pish .for a player of his “caliber”
It doesn’t matter how well any of them played because Mick McCarthy has his team picked and it includes McClean, Hendrick and Whealen. Afraid to take a gamble on Byrne, Cullen etc..
Love Parrotts play quick touches such clever movement.would love to see him and mc goldrick play as interchangeable 9 and 10
He’s on the fringes, but any time I’ve seen Alan Judge I think he’s always lively, positive, accurate and creative bringing others around him into the game.
Josh Cullen was my MOTM. He could be used perfectly in this Irish team as he links the play between defenders and attackers so well and just what we need. He was the standout player in our last friendly too so definitely should be in with a shout on Monday to start but I doubt Mick even has him in his thoughts for Monday unfortunately.
I never knew the nz soccer team were the all whites.and the nz basketball team are the TALL blacks. GENIUS.
@Seriously stunned:
Our basketball team are the LITTLE Leprechauns better than GENIUS.
Robinson,Maguire,O’Dowda and a half fit out of form Brady still all better options than James McClean on the left.Cullen was awesome as was Jack Byrne.
Thought Lee O’Connor was solid throughout and the most impressive of the newbies. Great cross for the goal.
Parrott was OK. I’d actually completly agree with Mick Mc’s opinion. “Troy did okay. He didn’t set the world on fire, but what he did I was really pleased with. He ran the channels, had a couple of chances — I know everyone is desperate for him to score — but the ‘keeper thwarted him. I’m pleased, overall.” I would ask the question though, is Adam Idah more deserving of playing last night? He has looked more impressive in the u21 campaign to date than TP imo.
Byrne I thought was very poor. The game was made for a player of his ilk and he didn’t produce anything of note. Ireland had loads of possession and if Byrne can’t show well in that game then he has no place playing against stronger opposition. He’s busy and looks the part, but what did he actually do with the ball? He offers nothing defensively either.
Having watched the U21 game, I like the look of Coventry and we all know about Molumby. Both are much more rounded players than Byrne for example. Both can attack and defend, box to box type players. Byrne is a luxury number 10 type player and I can’t see too many Irish teams over the next 10 years requiring such a player.
@John Lewis Hamilton: Can’t agree with that. He was involved in everything we did that was good in the first half. We had lot’s of possession because he didn’t lose the ball. Faded a bit in the second but we went a bit more direct and he has played a full season now. You’re complaining that he didn’t defend while also talking about how poor the opposition was….where did he let them team down defensively?
Cullen definitely played well enough to force his way into the starting 11, in place of Whelan, and since its a game we need to win I’d rather have Byrne in place of Hendrick who has contributed very little in years. It’s between Robinson and Maguire to play alongside McGoldrick and I think Robinson will hold on to his place. But I think Mick will start with his tried and tested and none of the starting 11 from last night will start Monday, bar perhaps the keeper if Randolph doesn’t recover from injury.
@Ger: The jack Byrne talk is over the top. Every manager in England and Scotland must be wrong. He has some nice touches and plays a few nice passes. You are on about replacing a premier league regular with a 10m price tag . Utter nonsense
@Michael Flannery: Every manager in England and Scotland? How about Holland and Ireland? Did you ask all of them? His troubles in England have been well documented and need to be taken in context. This site alone has done the story to death. At Oldham he was playing brilliantly but they froze him out because they needed to cut the wage bill. The fans petitioned to have him brought back in. Judge him on merit. He’s a 23 year old who can play positive, exciting football. Hendrick may have been valued at 10m at one stage but who would pay that based on his performances for Ireland? Not saying Jack should take his place but your arguments aren’t all that useful.
Hadn’t really seen Cullen play until last night but was really impressed with his ability to link the play with passes from deep. If Glenn Whelan was to get injured or suspended, I think Cullen could do a good job as his replacement.
@EK: if Glen Whelan wasn’t available I think Christy Brown would do a good job as his replacement
@Thomas Devlin: Not in the squad
I cant for the life of me understand the whole Jeff Hendrick thing he was a decent player once but he has literally done nothing this whole qualifying campaign to deserve automatic selection. He spent the last 2 or 3 matches handing the ball back to the opposition through bad passing and im talking 5 or ten yard basic 8 year old could do it stuff. We played some nice ball last night but i presume we will be back to the old hoof it and hope monday night
@Michael McGrath: He just doesn’t look arsed. It’s time to call a spade a spade. He looks bored out there for both Ireland and Burnley
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
@Michael McGrath: if they tried something different and lost…so be it
Someone tell Whelan to pack it in please.
It didn’t matter if the Lads had scored ten goals last night the same inept players that Mick has inexplicable faith in will start on Monday and Randolph will probably be man of the match,enough said.
Honestly, compared to just how bad our midfield and upfront has been lately, I’d be playing this and hoping for the best. Randolph, Stevens, Clark, Duffy, Doherty – Cullen, Browne, Hourihane – Robinson, McGoldrick, Maguire.
put them all in the Danes wont have prepared for that !
For me Byrne has to start, looking like our best player now, also Maguire has to play as well, either starting or off the bench
Let’s be honest, we haven’t a hope against Denmark. Mick played ultra conservative against a bog standard Georgian team and now we are screwed. We were rubbish against the Swiss who were equally bog standard. Like MON and Trap, our managers are afraid of invention and afraid to play football. England obliterated Montenegro by playing attacking football. If our mindset is defend defend defend them what is the point? I’ll eat my virtual hat if anyone from that team stats against denmark
@Joe: Joe Joe your the man I’ve been saying this for years and everybody put there ole ole hats. This man is no better than o neill or trap only thing In His favour is 2 qualify from the group. He’s a don’t concede at all costs manager and nobody that played last night will start on Monday. I’m glad I stopped going after Paris 2009 if I’m correcz
Dustin
“SQUAD UPDATE | Derrick Williams ruled out of #IRLDEN due to injury
Lee O’Connor will link back up with #IRLU21 “
Parrott is 18. Duffy is unlikely to start on Tuesday
@Gerry Keogh: parrot is 17
@Gerry Keogh: why wont duffy start?
my Ideal 11
Randolph
Egan, Duffy, Clark
Doherty, Hendricks, Browne, Hourihane, Stevens
Connally Mcgoldrick
Not one of the players from last night will feature is Jack Byrne better than Glen Whelan yes will he start no is Troy Parrot as good as Scott Hogan or James Collins yes will he start no. Mick Mccarthy rarely changes his team he has his favourites just like when he managed before. By the way we’ve only score 6 goals in 7 games and won just 3 Gibralta twice and Georgia. We don’t deserve to qualify but if we score first this man will shut up shop and try to hold on that’s the way he manages.
team i would like to see 4-2-3-1randolph doherty duffy clarke stevens ,cullen hourihane ,maguire, mcoldrick, robinson,parrot
or
3-5-2 long duffy clarke, doherty stevens,cullen hourihane byrne mcgoldrick robinson/maguire. would suit w’bs at club level long and cullen pas it out from the back
at least we would hold onto the ball .byrne and hourihane dead balls .byrne is our best attackinng midfielder not scared to pass the ball tricks take lads on himself give orders he should be brought on if not started. and cullen has to start instead of an over the hill whelan
No way should Maguire be starting any kind of competitive game for Ireland