DCU Dóchas Éireann 2-10 Ulster University 0-9

By Daire Walsh

Defending champions DCU Dóchas Éireann maintained their push for a third consecutive AIG O’Connor Cup title after recording a seven-point triumph over Ulster University (Belfast Campus) at Queen’s University on Friday afternoon.

With Kate Kenny, Leah Fox and Emma Duggan very much to the fore, Stephen Duff’s side held off a strong challenge from their northern counterparts to set up a repeat of last year’s final in Queen’s tomorrow.

Determined to stamp their authority on this contest, DCU raced into an early four-point lead courtesy of unanswered contributions from Fox, Hannah McGinnis, Duggan (free) and Kenny – who was a key figure for the college in their 2023 and 2024 successes in this competition.

While Ulster University finally opened their account with a fine individual point from Armagh’s Caitriona O’Hagan, Fox immediately responded at the opposite end and DCU created even further daylight when marauding half-back Ruth Sargent bagged a goal via excellent approach work by Duggan.

Sargeant was temporarily replaced in the wake of this score after she fell heavily on the turf, but DCU continued to pick off points through the boots of Fox, Duggan and Mayo’s Fionnuala McLaughlin.

An Amy Garland point cut the Ulster University deficit to eight points at the break (1-8 to 0-3) and a second effort from the Monaghan wing-back sparked a strong fightback by her side on the restart.

With DCU attacker Clodagh Lohan in the sin-bin, two points apiece from Emma Conroy (moments after her introduction as a second half substitute) and Lauren Garland ensured Ulster University had reduced the gap to three points by the third-quarter mark.

DCU had seemingly weathered the storm when Kenny kicked superb points either side of a Sorcha Gormley effort for Ulster University, but the college’s supporters breathed a sigh of relief when goalkeeper Robyn Murray produced an outstanding penalty save from Niamh King.

This was a let-off for the title holders, but their victory was officially secured when Kenny released McGinnis for a close-range goal in stoppage-time.

DCU Dóchas Éireann previously completed three in-a-row in this competition from 2009 to 2011 and now the college’s current crop of players are just 60 minutes away from achieving the same feat.

Scorers – DCU Dóchas Éireann: H McGinnis 1-1, R Sargent 1-0, K Kenny 0-3, L Fox 0-3 each, E Duggan 0-2 (2f), F McLaughlin 0-1.

Ulster University: L Garland 0-2 (1f), A Garland, C O’Hagan 0-2 each, E Conroy 0-2 (2f), S Gormley 0-1.

DCU Dóchas Éireann: R Murray; N Donlon, L Lenehan, C Durkan; S Reynolds, R Sargent, C Charters; K Owens, H McGinnis; C Lohan, E Duggan, F McLaughlin; L Fox, K Kenny, A Hanly. Subs: J Mortimer for Sargeant (18-h-t), A Cullen for Hanly (38), J Mortimer for Owens (54), J Lyons for Fox (60).

Ulster University: C Bradley; L Kavanagh, E Sands, M Ferguson; S O’Neill, C Brown, A Garland; B Quinn, N McClory; E Hagney, C O’Hagan, L Garland; H McQuaid, M O’Neill, N King. Subs: A Gough for Quinn, E Conroy for Hagney (both 38), S Gormley for M O’Neill (40), A Sherlock for O’Hagan (50), C Doyle for McClory (59).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).

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