by Daragh Ó Conchúir
University of Limerick 3-14
University College Cork 0-12
UL became the fifth college to complete the UPMC Ashbourne Cup five-in-a-row, emerging deserving winners over a gutsy but outgunned UCC at WIT Arena in Carriganore.
Sarsfields’ Siobhan McGrath
and Eyrecourt’s Mairead Burke were among the scorers while the panel also
included Skehana/Menlough’s Kate Screene, Craughwell’s Leanne Freaney and
Sarsfields’ Rachel Murray.
It was a bitter pill to
swallow for the Leesiders, who have been UL’s victims on each occasion.
But they just had no answer
to a side boasting the type of firepower provided by joint-captain Beth Carton,
who finished with player-of-the-match honours for the second consecutive
season, Tipperary’s Ciardha Maher and two inter-county stars that will be the
chief threats for their clubs on All-Ireland duty at the end of the month,
Siobhán McGrath (Sarsfields and Galway) and Annie Fitzgerald (Gailltír and
Waterford).
Four-time All-Ireland
winner with Cork, Orla Cronin took the fight to the Shannonsiders, ably
supported by Intermediate Rebels, Hayley Ryan and Finola Neville and Tipp
attacker Caoimhe Perdue but they never looked like upsetting the odds.
Keeva McCarthy opened the
scoring with a brilliant point from 40m after 87 seconds for UCC but UL quickly
settled into their groove, Carton feeding Waterford teammate Fitzgerald for the
equaliser before converting three pointed frees.
The double All-Star, who
hails from the De La Salle club just three miles away, turned provider once
more with a delectable pass for Maher to point and when Maher goaled in the 13th minute,
UCC were in trouble.
It was a well-worked score,
Carton coming out of a ruck in possession and feeding Maher, who exchanged
passes with Fitzgerald before finishing with a low shot Sarah Aherne will be
disappointed she was unable to stop.
That put seven points
between the sides and while Cronin shot three points to give the Skull and
Crossbones some hope, that was quickly dashed when McGrath rattled the net with
a first-time pull off the sod in the 22nd minute.
Cronin was accurate from
frees but so was Carton at the other end and UL had a greater breadth of
scoring threat, Mairéad Burke and Róisín Howard also pointing to leave it 2-9
to 0-7 at half-time.
UCC needed goals but could
not break down a UL defence that was aided by the industrious Sophie O’Callaghan.
On the rare occasion Deborah Murphy was called upon, the Clare netminder was
not found wanting either.
Cronin slotted a neat score
but Carton bulleted a 39th minute penalty to the net, after
Fitzgerald had been unceremoniously hauled to the ground, and there would be no
way back for UCC.
SCORERS FOR UL: B Carton 1-6 (0-6fs, 1-0 pen); S McGrath 1-3; C Maher 1-1; A Fitzgerald; M Burke, R Howard, C Lyons 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR UCC: O Cronin 0-6(5fs); C Purdue 0-2; K McCarthy, K Blair, F Neville (f), L Hayes 0-1 each
UL: D Murphy
(Clarecastle/Clare), C Brogan (Clooney Quin/Clare), C Hehir (Inagh
Kilnamona/Clare), M Quaid (Bruff/Limerick), A Ryan (Kilkishin Bodyke/Clare), K
Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields/Tipperary), K Lynch (Gailltír/Waterford) , R
Ambrose (Newcastle West/Limerick), M Burke (Eyrecourt/Galway), S O’Callaghan
(Adare/Limerick), B Carton (De La Salle/Waterford), R Howard (Cahir/Tipperary),
A Fitzgerald (Gailltír/Waterford), C Maher (Burgess Duharra/Tipperary), S
McGrath (Sarsfields/Galway). Subs: A O’Keeffe (Inagh Kilnamona/Clare) for
Burke, C Lyons for Fitzgerald (Monaleen/Limerick), S Conlon (Tulla/Clare) for
Maher, J Horgan (Clanmaurice/Kerry) for Ryan
UCC: S Aherne
(Balygarvan/Cork), S Harney (St Anne’s/Waterford), N O’Leary (Brian
Dillons/Cork), C Daly (Killeagh/Cork), L Hayes (St Catherine’s/Cork), R Phelan
(Conahy Shamrocks/Kilkenny), F Neville (St Catherine’s/Cork), L Callinan (Glen
Rovers/Cork), K Dooley (Ballinora/Cork), C Sigerson (Killeagh/Cork), O Cronin
(Enniskeane/Cork), K McCarthy (St Finbarr’s/Cork), H Ryan (Blackrock/Cork), C
Perdue (Cashel/Tipperary), K Blair (Cashel/Tipperary). Subs: H McCauliffe
(Nenagh Éire Óg/Tipperary) for Daly, C McCarthy (Aghabullogue/Cork) for Blair,
M Lynch (Newcestown/Cork) for Perdue
Referee: Mike Ryan
(Tipperary)
