ASHBOURNE CUP

UCD -v- UUJ

Dublin star Kate McDonald inspires UCD to victory over UUJ with a player of the match display in the group stages of the Ashbourne Cup.


After suffering a defeat in the league UCD turned the tables on UUJ last night when they recorded a 2-14 to 2-08 victory in Round 2 of the Ashbourne Cup. Played in freezing conditions in Dublin, UCD were the stronger side in the first half with free taker Kristen Farrell proving deadly accurate from placed balls. Arriving late to the match UUJ were always on the back foot with Denise McGrath causing havoc in the UUJ defence, wearing number 12, McGrath took advantage of UUJ's slow start when she rifled a shot past Jordanstown's keeper Eleanor Mallon. With joint captain Kate McDonald and Dublin's Natalia Hyland dominant at midfield UUJ struggled to get any ball into their forward line. UUJ could feel that they were penalised wrongly which allowed UCD to tag on a few points before UUJ responded with a well taken goal from Derry star Karen Kielt, followed by a point from a free from the same player shortly after. UCD continued to pile on the pressure with points from Kirsten Farrell, Eileen McElroy and Emma O'Connor and but for the efforts of the UUJ defence led by Sabrina Larkin it could have been worse. Dublin's McGrath had the final say of the first half when she hit the top corner of the net for her second goal.

HALF TIME SCORE: UCD 2-06 -v- UUJ 1-01

After some strong words from UUJ manager Aisling Jackson at half time UUJ started the second half brightly with two points inside the opening two minutes. UCD responded with an excellent team score after the hard working Sandra Tannion provided a lay off to Eimear O'Connor who duly slotted over a point from an acute angle. UUJ responded with a point from a free, before Eileen McElroy scored after an impressive solo run through the UUJ defence. UCD followed this up with two points from frees before UUJ responded with a point from Shannon Graham. It was score for score for the next ten minutes before UUJ sparked to life scoring 1-03 without reply. Strong running from UUJ captain Sara Louise Carr created space in the UCD defence and when Carr laid the ball off to full forward Kielt, she duly finished to the net with a hand passed goal. It proved to little too late for Jordanstown who now play UCC next week in a game, which they must win if they are to stand any chance of going through to the Ashbourne Cup semi finals.

Best on the night for UCD were Sandra Tannion, Kate McDonald, Denise McGrath and Eileen McElroy. While Tipperary native Sabrina Larkin and Lisa McPolin performed best for the Belfast side.

FINAL SCORE UCD 2-14 -v- UUJ 2-08

UCD Team: Emma Staunton, Emma Doyle, Ger Stapleton, Frances Doran, Ruth Kaiser, Leanne Fennelly (capt), Elaine Tannian, Kate McDonald (capt), Natalia Hyland, Sandra Tannian, Eileen McElroy, Denise McGrath, Eimear O'Connor, Kirsten Farrell, Emma O'Connor


UUJ Team: Eleanor Mallon, Aimee McInerney, Sarah Maguire, Rebecca Mooney, Cathy Carey, Sabrina Larkin, Lisa McPolin, Teresa McElroy, Paula Gribben, Dania Donnelly, Sara Louise Carr (Capt.), Shannon Graham, Alex McLaughlin, Karen Kielt, Niamh Donnelly Tweet

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