CIT -v- WIT
Saturday 6th of February sees CIT, Ashbourne and Purcell hosts take on the competition favourites WIT at the newly built GAA complex in CIT. The odds are stacked against CIT in this qualifier match. WIT have a wealth of talent to call on including Kilkenny captain and All Star recipient Anne Dalton, Wexford's prolific forward Ursula Jacob and 'Young Player of the Year', Kilkenny's Denise Gaule. WIT after last years win in the Ashbourne Cup will be confident of their chances against a CIT that are building a talented squad with young players like Michelle Browne, Christine O Neill and Denise Lubey. However with the experience of Julie Mc Grath and Elaine O Riordan in the CIT backline they may just pull off an upset in this one.

Fixture: WIT V CIT
Date: Saturday 6th February
Time: 2pm
Venue: CIT
Referee: Cathal Egan


UCC -v- UL
Also in Cork on Saturday, this time in the famous Mardyke grounds, UCC will play host to UL in what promises to be an enthralling encounter. Both teams are well matched with many inter-county players in both sides. UCC can boast Cork's Orla Cotter and Denise Cronin, Tipperary's Jill Horan and Aoife Mc Loughney and Kilkenny's Therese Muldowney and Elaine O Shea. UL are also in a lucky position to have a talented squad that includes Waterford's Aine Lyng, Cork's Mary Coleman and Ciara Johnston. This game may be too close to call with such well matched side's, however it does promise to be a cracker!

Fixture: UCC V UL
Date: Saturday 6th February
Time: 2pm
Venue: Mardyke, UCC
Referee: TBC




UCD - v - NUIG
In the final qualifier UCD have the home advantage against the 2009 Ashbourne Shield winners. UCD have lost many of the big name players that saw them win two Ashbourne Cups in a row '07 and '08 and this may prove to be a very costly loss of talent from the squad. NUIG fresh from their success last year have Corks Deirdre Twomey and Offaly's All Star winner 2008 Michaela Morkan. UCD will be relying on the experienced Mairead Luttrell at full back and Kilkenny's Leanne Fennelly. UCD will be favourites for this one and will expect to be in the Ashbourne Cup semi final in a fortnight's time.

Fixture: UCD V NUIG
Date: Saturday 6th February
Time: 2pm
Venue: UCD
Referee: Damien Noble Tweet

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