The UL Senior ladies footballers made it 3 from 3 with an emphatic win over Maynooth University to book their place in the Division 1 league semi-final. Their opposition will be decided when DCU play UCD in the other group with the loser of that game facing the reigning champions.
Against Maynooth, the UL ladies got straight down to business from the start of the game and went into an early lead 1-6 to 0-2 after 10 minutes, the goal coming from a placed ball by Roisin Leonard. Despite Maynooth’s best efforts, the UL girls dominated across the pitch with the defence and half forward line turning over ball after ball. Lisa McManamon and Emer Hillery kept the UL wings safe while Maria Curley and Aisling O’Connell defended ferociously in the full back line.
At half time the score stood at 4-8 to 0-5. The second half started much like the first half ended with UL on top. The score of the game goes to UL full back Laurie Ryan who made a blistering run up the pitch only to find herself in front of goal with the ball, a glorious shot with the outside of the left boot saw the ball sail over the black spot.
Despite a loss to Mary I, the senior hurlers have qualified for the league quarter final against Carlow IT. Previous wins against NUIG, LIT and GMIT were enough to see UL out of their group. On the day an impressive Mary I outfit combined style and substance to overcome a fancied UL side in the Senior League group game. To their credit, UL battled valiantly to the final whistle with substitutes Liam O’Sullivan, Ian Galvin and Tommy Heffernan in particular providing much needed fire power to the full forward line.
Mary I declared their intent from the off, outscoring UL four points to one in the first ten minutes. However, UL managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the first half with vital points from Tom and Adrian Morrissey and the impressive Jason Forde. A mere two points separated the sides at half time on a score of 0-13 to 0-11 points and it looked all to play for in the second half.
Mary I enjoyed a purple patch in the opening of the second half with some inspirational scores from Cian Lynch and David Reidy. They managed to extend their lead to eight points with fifteen minutes to go and it appeared UL had no answer. However, a superb penalty save by Shane Hassett seemed to ignite a fight in UL and this, coupled with aforementioned forward substitutions Tommy Heffernan, Ian Galvin and Liam O’Sullivan saw the reigning Fitzgibbon champions begin to show true form.
Unfortunately, it was a case of too little, too late for UL and the final score saw Mary I meriting a victory of 0-26 points to 0-22. Best on the day for Mary I were David Reidy, Niall O’Meara, Colm Galvin and Cian Lynch.For UL, in defence, Jack Browne thundered into the game in the second half with Jason Forde consistent throughout. Aidan McGuane toiled diligently in the middle of the field with Tom Morrissey, Liam O’Sullivan and Tommy Heffernan being the pick of the forwards.
Elsewhere, our senior camogie team received a walkover from NUIG and won a close game with a strong Mary I team. Our senior footballers had a good win over CIT but just came up short against a strong IT Tralee team. Our intermediate teams across the four codes struggled with our footballers drawing with CIT while the others lost out in close games. Our junior hurlers lost out to CCFE while our Fresher 1 hurlers and footballers beat Mary I and Carlow IT respectively. The Fresher 1 hurlers have qualified for a league quarter final against UCC after a good league campaign.
Claire Schoenemann 
Áine Gleeson 
James Roulston Mooney