DCU make their bid for Ashbourne camogie when they play NUIG at Dangan GAA grounds tomorrow (throw-in 2pm).
The play-off encounter will determine which side joins the elite of college camogie, with the loser forced to ply their trade in the second tier for the forthcoming year.
DCU were crowned Purcell Cup champions last February but straightforward promotion was not guaranteed. The CCAO ruling states that the winner of the Purcell Cup must play the loser of the Ashbourne shield to establish which side earns the right to dine at the top table.
DCU come into the match of the back of an eight point defeat to UL in last Wednesday’s Division 1 league semi-final, not a terrible result when you consider UL imposed a 30-point hiding on NUIG in the earlier rounds of the league.
The Westerners managed only one win throughout the league, that against Mary I, losing their three remaining fixtures to UCC, WIT and the aforementioned University of Limerick.
Despite shipping seven goals in their opener away to UCD, it was very much a positive campaign for the college’s stickwomen as wins over Queen’s and UUJ ensured passage to the knock-out stages.
Speaking to The College View, full-back Emma Brennan is hopeful the side can carry their league form into tomorrow’s crucial contest.
“We’re very optimistic about Monday and our chances. We had a tough game against UL on Wednesday in the league semi final and our second half performance was the best we’ve played all year so hopefully we can carry that over to Monday.
“No doubt it’s probably a more important game for us than the All-Ireland final last year because it’s what we’ve been aiming for the last few years. Every player knows that we have the capability to win game- we’ve just got to go out and do it.”
The two side’s clashed in the league last season with DCU coming out on top by a scoreline of 5-5 to 2-12, and though NUIG boast All-Star Niamh McGrath amongst their ranks, DCU get the nod to claim the final spot of the Ashbourne competition.
Eoghan Cormican
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