by Orla Bannon

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK 2-11
UCC 3-6

University of Limerick booked their place in Saturday's O'Connor Cup final after an impressive second-half performance against Munster rivals UCC in Belfast.

UCC led by a point, 2-4 to 1-6, at half-time but UL played superbly against the wind in the second half to set up an interesting rematch against defending champions and hosts Queen's University.

The sides met already this season in the league final, which Queen's won by a point after extra-time, but UL will be confident they can turn the tables after this win at the Dub.

In terrible weather conditions, Clare forward Niamh O'Dea hit four points against the breeze in the second half while Kerry sub Caroline McCarthy scored a 39th minute goal to wrestle the initiative away from UCC.

The Cork girls had been the better team in the first half but were undone by a lethargic second half performance. Three of their players (Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh, Doireann O'Sullivan and Cait Lynch) only returned yesterday morning from an All Stars trip to Hong Kong and fatigue may have been a factor as the game wore on.

Both teams scored goals early on, a goalkeeping blunder allowing UL's Claire O'Sullivan's attempt for a point drop into the back of the UCC net after just thirty seconds.

UCC replied in the fifth minute when Orlagh Farmer set up Jennifer Barry for a well-taken goal from ten yards out.

Farmer then scored the first of her two goals in the tenth minute, toe-poking the ball into the net after Barry failed to hold on to possession.

UL looked like they were going to take a decent lead into half time with points from Roisin Leonard and an Aine Tighe free. However, UCC hit three points deep in injury-time from Kelly Hackett, Megan O'Connell and a O Mhuircheartaigh free to lead by a point at the break.

Caroline McCarthy's goal and points from O'Dea and Doireann O'Sullivan helped UL take a 2-9 to 2-5 lead midway through the second half.

Orlagh Farmer got on the end of a well-worked move involving Doireann O'Sullivan and Hackett for UCC's third goal in the 46th minute, but UL kept possession well in the last ten minutes and held on to their slender lead to make it through to the decider.

Scorers for University of Limerick - N O'Dea 0-5 (2f), C O'Sullivan 1-1, C McCarthy 1-0, R Leonard 0-2, A Tighe 0-2 (1f), L Scanlon 0-1

Scorers for UCC - O Farmer 2-0, L Ni Mhuircheartaigh 0-3 (3f), J Barry 1-0, K Hackett, M O'Connell, D O'Sullivan 0-1 each

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK: L Crowley (Cork); B McManus (Cork), S Tierney (Mayo), L Ryan (Clare); J White (Cork), K Keaney (Donegal), C Cooney (Galway); L Scanlon (Kerry), J Grant (Tipperary); C O'Sullivan (Kerry), R Leonard (Galway), L O'Sullivan (Kerry); A Tighe (Leitrim), N Richardson (Limerick), N O'Dea (Clare). Subs: C McCarthy (Kerry) for C O'Sullivan (19), D Walsh (Tipperary) for Ryan (21), S Condon (Tipperary) for Walsh (45), G Carty (Sligo) for Richardson (48)

UCC: C Walsh (Cork); R Phelan (Cork), C Lynch (Mayo), A Hickey (Clare); A Hayes (Cork), A Taylor (Donegal), M O'Callaghan (Galway); J Barry (Kerry), A O'Leary (Tipperary); O Farmer (Kerry), M O'Connell (Galway), A O'Sullivan (Kerry); K Hackett (Meath), L Ni Mhuircheartaigh (Kerry), D O'Sullivan (Clare). Subs: K O'Dea (Tipperary) for Hackett (49)

REFEREE: Keith Tighe (Dublin)

Video by Jerome Quinn Media for ladiesgaelic.ie and HEC Ladies Football. Tweet

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