On a wet and miserable evening in Cork the final game of the Ashbourne quarter finals took place with UCC playing host to neighbours CIT. From their pre match huddle and team talk it was evident that a very determined CIT would take to the field but it was UCC who had the first few attacks with attempts on goal from Cork player Denise Cronin and Kildares Cliodhna MacSweeney. CIT were finding it difficult to cross the halfway line and UCC were rewarded when Katrina Mackey broke through the defence to rattle a shot to the back of the net. This was quickly followed by a point from Sinead O'Neill and a free from Orla Cotter. Cotter continued the scoring with a point from another free before Denise Luby got CIT's first score of the match. UCC continued to put pressure on but the CIT defence worked tirelessly before Niamh Goulding scored a point. CIT took a player out to try to ease some pressure but the UCC half back line and midfield worked well to combat this. The CIT half back line began to exert some influence and began to run at the UCC defence. Excellent defending from Julie Brien and Elaine O'Shea kept CIT out before Orla Cotter scored her fourth point of the game to close the first half. Half time score 1-07 to 0-01 in favour to UCC.

UCC recorded a number of wides before Cotter took off on a solo run from midfield to slot between the posts and she immediately broke through again to score an almost identical point from play. UCC began to concede easy frees and CIT were rewarded when Denise Luby got her second point from a free. Denise Cronin and Denise Luby exchanged scores before a bad puck out from the CIT goalkeeper resulted in it being blocked down by Niamh Goulding who rifled a shot to the back of the net. This was followed up by a point from substitute Miriam Crowley before Denise Luby pointed her fourth free of the match. Two points from Katrina Mackey and Cotter's 9th point of the day rounded of the scoring for the match.
UCC will be happy with the result and will now face UCD in the semi final while CIT will play Athlone IT in the Shield semi final.

UCC Team: Susan Earner, Julie Brien, Sarah Collins, Elaine O'Shea, Pamela Mackey, Fionnuala Carr, Eadoin McNamara, Orla Cotter, Denise Cronin, Sinead O'Neill, Grainne Kenneally, Katrina Mackey, Cliodhna MacSweeney, Niamh Goulding, Caitriona Brennan. SUBS USED: Miriam Crowley, Sharon Hayes, Roisin DeFaoite, Nicola Butler, Patrica Buttimer
CIT Team: Lisa-Marie O'Mahony, Máirín Egan, Christine O'Neill, Semma Long, Emma Forde, Elaine Casey, Sorcha Fennelly, Erin Reidy, Ailin O'Donovan, Mariah Reidy, Shona Cunnigham, Denise Luby, Erin Corkery, Evelyn Roynane, Sarah Buckley.

Subs: Tracey Kiely, Clara Kavanagh, Aileen Hogan, Aoife Doyle, Emma O'Regan, Orla Gleeson, Claire Curley, Leanne O'Sé, Caitriona McGlone, Liz Kelly, Tracy McCarthy, Natasha Varian, Bernadette Keohane, Cliona Healy, Marykate Grabhanna.
Ashbourne Quarter Finals
UCC 2-16 CIT 0-4
UCD 9-22 AIT 0-1
UUJ 1-5 UL 5-17
NUIG 0-9 WIT 3-8

Ashbourne Cup Semi Finals - Sat 19th Feb in Dangan GAA Pitch 1
UCC v UCD 1.30pm
UL v WIT 3.30pm

Ashbourne Cup Final - Sun 20th Feb at 3pm in Pearse Stadium, Galway Tweet

Most Read Stories