DCU’s camogie team have progressed through the group stages of the Ashbourne Cup after recording an impressive victory over UCC in St. Clares on Wednesday last.
The two-time Purcell Cup champions defeated UCC with an impressive display on a scoreline of 4-7 to 0-7. DCU proved to be the overall better side in every area of the pitch, but it was the DCU half-back line and their midfield that was most impressive.
The DCU midfield dominated UCC from early on, and UCC failed to provide an answer for the powerful performances, coming from twice Purcell Cup All-Star Emma Brennan and the rest of the half-back line. Brennan contributed a total of 1-4 out of DCU’s total from centre-back.
DCU started the game at a blistering pace, scoring 1-4 without reply, the scores coming from good build-up play in the half-back and half-forward lines. UCC were not starved of possession, but when it came to creating clear scoring chances, they lacked the time and space to cause problems as DCU’s work ethic was far superior in the opening stages.
DCU’s first goal came in the 15th minute when the ball was launched into the UCC square. The UCC netminder and backline failed to deal with the high ball. The ball fell to the DCU full-forward and she finished with aplomb.
UCC finally got a score on the board after their wing-forward was fouled on the DCU 45-metre line, and the free was converted by the UCC centre-forward.
UCC scored four more points without reply, two of which were frees, and another came out of UCC winning some scrappy ball in the middle of the field, breaking down the left wing and taking a fine score. UCC had clawed back DCU and found themselves only two points behind going into the final minutes of the half.
DCU stemmed the visitors’ scoring when a foul in the rectangle prompted the referee to award a penalty, which was put away by centre half-back Emma Brennan. This goal left DCU five points ahead going into half time.
The second half started off nip-and-tuck with both sides notching up two scores apiece in the opening 20 minutes.
UCC broke through the DCU defence 12 minutes into the second half, but a fantastic save from the DCU goalkeeper meant the attack only resulted in a point which at the time would have cut DCU’s lead down to a solitary point.
On the 20 minute mark in the second period, DCU’s Lisa Carey launched another high ball into the UCC backline which they again failed to deal with, and the DCU full-forward pounced to give daylight between the sides. DCU went on to score another goal in the final minutes, putting the result beyond doubt and securing DCU’s place in camogie’s elite competition.
DCU will face both University of Limerick and UUJ in the Ashbourne cup group stages which will be played in January.
Garrett Lavin
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