Assistant Manager Seán Flynn has commended the DCU camogie team for their brave, but ultimately unsuccessful performance in their Division 1 league semi-final clash away to UL.
Since being soundly beaten by UCD in their opening game of the season, DCU’s camogie league form has been on an upward trajectory. Healthy victories over both Queen’s and UUJ saw the side concede a combined total of just eight points after successful conquests of the Northern outfits. The semi-final encounter against UL last Wednesday was reward for their efforts.
Unfortunately, the match was fixed just five days before the Dublin side’s biggest clash of the season; an Ashbourne Cup playoff against NUIG, needless to say, the side’s concentration may have been elsewhere.
According to Flynn though, this most certainly was not the case. Despite losing on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-6, Flynn credited the ladies’ hard-work ethos and pointed out the ample number of blocks and hooks throughout the game which saw them challenge one of the best sides in Higher Education camogie, right up until the final whistle.
The University of Limerick had a perfect record in the league going into the tie and had beaten the likes of UCC and, last year’s Ashbourne champions, WIT in the competition. Flynn was acutely aware of this, labelling UL as “one of the best sides around”. However, if it hadn’t been for a number of dubious refereeing decisions, matters could have been far more interesting. With only four points between the sides late in the second half, Flynn felt that a clear foul on a DCU player 21 yards out from goal, wasn’t given and that this moment was crucial. From this point on, UL deployed a ‘sweeper’ and attacked from deep, keeping their point-count ticking along.
Emma Brennan and Róisín Collins were briefly singled out by Flynn for their imposing performances, but the assistant manager was also impressed with his side’s ability to handle the pressure in what was an important game and that this would ultimately create a greater sense of focus before critical ties in the future.
Eoin Sheahan
IMAGE CREDIT: Sportsfile
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