Waterford Institute of Technology, 7pm

Following on from the success of hosting the 2011 Fitzgibbon Cup, Waterford Institute of Technology is once again to the fore of hosting the elite of Third Level activity when they hold the Ashbourne and Purcell Cups on the weekend of February 18/19. This year Waterford IT are going for an unprecedented four-in-a-row Ashbourne titles.

This week is crunch time in the group stages of the Ashbourne Cup. Hosts WIT are the only side guaranteed their place in the semi-final. University of Limerick and NUI Galway must battle it out for the remaining semi-final spot in Group 2. In Group 1 University College Dublin will be anxiously waiting the result of the final game where University of Ulster Jordanstown face the tall order of beating 2011 finalists University College Cork if they are to stand any chance of competing for this year's Cup.


The management team of Waterford IT includes Wexford and Oulart-The-Ballagh stars Helena and Ursula Jacob, Ursula captaining the side to Ashbourne Cup victory in 2010. Katie Power is captain of this year's Waterford IT side and the talented Kilkenny attacker says Waterford IT are delighted to be hosting this year's competition, "Waterford IT camogie club is once more delighted to host the blue riband of third level camogie - an event that is second only to the All-Ireland senior camogie title race. I would like to wish all players, managers, officials and spectators a very enjoyable and successful weekend."

The host college had a number of barren years before welcoming a plethora of inter-county stars which has resulted in three Ashbourne Cups in a row in 2011. Gaelic Games Officer Conor Phelan welcomes the highlight of third level camogie to Waterford expressing a wish that all teams in the Ashbourne and Purcell Cups play to their optimum and bring from Waterford memories of participation and enjoyment long after the games have ended.

Chairman of CCAO third level camogie Shane Darcy said, "The Ashbourne-Purcell weekend is one of the premier events in the camogie calendar with over 400 camogie players taking part. I wish all of the 18 teams a wonderful weekend of sport.
It is a very exciting and busy time for all involved in third level camogie and I would like to take the opportunity to thank Conor Phelan and Sheila O'Donohue for their hard work to date and wish them and their organizing team at Waterford the very best for hosting the 2012 weekend."

President of The Camogie Association Joan O'Flynn said, "The Ashbourne and Purcell Cup Competitions provide plenty of top class camogie action played by players who are fantastic ambassadors for the game of camogie. It is the sporting ambition of all college playing camogie players to win either an Ashbourne or a Purcell All Ireland medal, and the weekend of 18th and 19th February will be no different with the country's leading colleges vying for these prestigious titles. It is always interesting to read and hear discussed the relationship between sport and academic achievement. The evidence certainly supports the adage a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and that's important for players, coaches and parents to remember. For Camogie players, your time in College will give you the skills and competencies to take on professional and leadership roles in our communities. Your time in Colleges' Camogie will also be useful. Through it you can gain wonderful opportunities also to gain skills and abilities that will be of practical use to you in your personal and working lives. Team work, fair play, respect for others and balancing work and fun will always be useful to you!" Tweet

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