ASHBOURNE CUP PREVIEW

The focal point of the college season and the start of the QUB GAA Festival takes place this weekend and it promises to be a hugely entertaining and exciting weekend.  The Ashbourne Cup group stages threw up a few surprises and for the first time in many years neither UCC or UCD will compete at in the Ashbourne Cup.

Following on from their impressive win over UCD, NUIG will take on 2013 finalists UL in the first semi-final at 3pm.  This fixture is a rematch of the 2013 semi-final, with UL coming out on top by a small margin and  it promises to be another enthralling affair.  NUIG have welcomed the hugely talented and 2013 Camogie All Stars Niamh McGrath and Ailish O’Reilly to their side.  UL will be hoping to go one step further than last year and they will be relying on captain Cait Devane and 2013 Ashbourne player of the tournament Marie McGrath to lead them to victory.  Devane is ably supported in the forward line by Corks Julia Walsh and the talented Laura McMahon.  Central to UL’s victory over DIT in the League Cup final was their midfield and half back line.  The aforementioned McGrath gets through Trojan work in the middle and is supported by Niamh O’Dea and Lynda Bulger in the half back line.  UL will have to be at their best to overcome NUIG and it is whoever can dominate the middle of the park will be favourites for the win.  UL will start the match as favourites but they will need to be at their best to overcome NUIG who can also call upon up and coming Kilkenny star Aishling Dunphy and Derry’s Maureen Heneghan in defence.   On paper UL look to have the stronger side but NUIG will take confidence from their win over UCD and hope to cause another upset.

In the second semi-final defending champions WIT will take on Ashbourne new comers DCU.  DCU have made huge strides in colleges camogie in recent years and they will be hoping that they can cause a further upset by defeating WIT.  Depsite losing a host of inter-county stars from last year’s winning team WIT have proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with by easily defeating UCD and NUIG in the group stages.  Katie Power has been their stand out performer in attack and she is ably assisted by Shelly Farrell and Emma Commerford.  Patricia Jackman and Collette Dormer are rock solid in defence and DCU will need to have a game plan to prevent Jackman from dictating the play at centre back.  On the other hand DCU captain and centre back Emma Brennan has been a lynchpin of the DCU defence for the past number of years and is also a very reliable free taker who will punish at any opportunity she is given.  DCU can also call upon Kildare player and Junior All Ireland winner Fiona Trant at full back and Stacey Quirke at centre back.  Miriam Twomey is a power house in midfield and Kilkennys Mairead Power will provide the scoring threat in the half forward line.  The DCU full forward line of Orlaith Durkan, Aoife Bulger and Laura Sheehan can cause problems if given the right supply of ball.  WIT are still many peoples favourites for the tournament and if they continue their impressive form from the group stages then it is difficult to see past them.

ASHBOURNE SEMI FINAL FIXTURES

University College Limerick v NUI Galway, 3pm, Academy Pitch, Referee: Owen Elliott

Waterford IT v Dublin City University, 4.30pm, Academy Pitch, Referee: Colum Cunning