By Cóilín Duffy

Reigning champions UL will meet Waterford IT in their fourth final in a row, in the Centenary Ashbourne Cup Camogie on Sunday at DCU (3.30pm), after semi-final wins this afternoon.

UL sparkled under the DCU Sportsgrounds floodlights to record a 0-14 to 0-8 win over UCC, in a game where Cait Devane scored 12 points, whole here Tipperary colleague Aoife McGrath added the other two scores.

Despite, a six-point margin at the full-time whistle, UCC pushed the Limerick University all the way, with UL forced to defend strongly.

UL captain Devane led by example, and swooped throughout the field, and was back helping her defence as quickly as she was slotting over points at the opposite end, while the Clonoulty-Rossmore clubwoman also gave a fine exhibition of striking from distance.

The sides were tied on two occasions in the opening five minutes, with Devane accounting for both of UL's scores, while Cork's Katrina Mackey and Waterford's Niamh Rockett were on target for UCC.

UL moved three ahead by the 12th minute, and although UCC cut the gap to the minimum, four unanswered points between the 19th and 22nd minutes, all from Devane, set UL up nicely for a 0-10 to 0-5 interval lead.

UCC goalkeeper Shauna Carroll and her defence tried their utmost, but at the opposite end it was hard to make the breakthrough.

UCC outscored their opponents by two points to one in a 17 minute spell after the break, with Mackey taking both scores, but UL continued to edge the lead.

The gap stood at four points with 10 minutes remaining, but UL closed out this game with a brace of points as Devane brought her tally to 0-12, and booked a place in their fourth final in a row.

A brace of second half goals from KIlkenny's Miriam Walsh and Wexford's Marie Morrissey helped seven-time champions Waterford IT to their eighth final in succession, thanks to a 3-17 to 0-9 win over NUI Galway at DCU.

Ann Downey's charges held their opponents to two second half points, in a game which saw the sides level 1-4 to 0-7 at half-time.

The sides were level at 0-3 apiece after 13 minutes, after a Niamh McGrath point for NUIG, and indeed the Galway University moved a point clear three minutes later after Galway player McGrath bagged her third point.

WIT broke through for the only goal of the half in the 20th minute, after Ciara Quirke slotted to the next, with a point from the Carlow native pushing her side 1-4 to 0-4 ahead after 23 minutes.

NUIG rallied before the break, as a brace of Aoife Callanan points and a McGrath score, ensured the teams were level at the interval.

WIT came out on fire in the second half, and scored 1-9 without reply in an 18-minute spell after the restart.

Poc Fada champion Patricia Jackman started this brilliant patch with a pointed free in the 32nd minute, with Walsh, Comerford, Julie McLoughlin, Quirke, Nicola Butler and Marie Morrissey also on target during this spell.

WIT's second goal came in the 37th minute, after Walsh received a pass from Meighan Farrell, to push her side 2-7 to 0-7 ahead at that stage.

Leading by 2-13 to 0-7, with 12 minutes remaining, WIT were odds on for victory, with a McGrath pointed free ending NUIG's scoring drought.

WIT never gave up, with Morrissey completing their hat-trick five minutes from the end, with a late McGrath pointed free mere consolation for NUIG.

Fixtures for Sunday

CAMOGIE

Centenary Ashbourne Cup Weekend

Ashbourne Cup Final (3.30) - WIT v UL, DCU 3G Pitch, J Byrne (Dublin).

Purcell Cup Final (1.30) - DIT v Mary I, DCU 3G Pitch, R Kelly (Kildare).

Fr Meachair Cup Final (12.00) - IT Carlow v St Mary's, DCU GAA Pitch 1, G McGough (Dublin).

Ashbourne Shield Final (11.30) - UCD v DCU, DCU 3G Pitch, K O'Brien (Dublin).

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