Kennedy Cup exam passed by UL

A devastating scoring display from UL corner forwards Niamh
O’Dea and Aine Tighe proved too much for UCC to handle as the Limerick side
captured the Jim Kennedy Cup on a 3-16 to 2-12 score line for the first time.

The twin threat ended the day with a haul of 2-10 as UCC
minus a number of their starting team struggled to contain them.

UL were beaten finalists in 2012 to Cork but today they
found their stride in the second quarter of the game and never looked back.

The first quarter was a tight affair with both sides level
on four occasions. However, when Laura O’Sullivan intercepted a UCC pass on the
30M line her quick hand pass ended up with Aine Tighe on the edge of the square.
Tighe made no mistake to give UL a significant lead of 1-4 to 0-4 after 16 minutes.

The next ten minutes were owned by UL as they went on to
score 1-6 without reply. O’Dea, Tighe and Claire O’Sullivan all added scores
but Tighe’s second goal was fortunate as it was dropped in under the bar from
distance.

UCC struggled in particular to secure ball from their own kick
out and on limited possession did well to finish the half strong.

Megan O’Connell drove her effort against the bar on the 24^th
minute for UCC and deserved a goal but the rebound ended up with her Kerry teammate
Ni Mhuircheartaigh who from 20M rifled to the net. UCC trailing 2-11 to 1-6 at
the break.

Leonard and O’Dea had the lead out to ten points by the 40^th
minute as UCC while more dominant struggled to get quick ball in. Instead it
was left to Ni Mhuircheartaigh to gradually claw back the lead on frees and the
Kerry girl was on fine form in this department. Heading into the final ten
minutes UCC were still in sight on UL and despite being 8 points adrift were
playing some of their best football.

However their hearts were to be broken when UL substitute
Caroline McCarthy picked up a seemingly harmless ball 40M from goal but a
stunning run and a rocket of an effort later ensured UL the title.

Niamh O’Dea won player of the game and with a haul of seven
points of which five were from play. Her fellow corner forward Aine Tighe was
to end with 2-3 and while it was the finishing that was vital much of the hard
work had been done by a half forward line that spent the day opening gaps and linking
play. Tierney and Keaney ensured that the UL door remained shut to UCC
forwards.

The loss of Orlagh Farmer and Elaine Scally certainly did
not help the UCC cause and may have robbed them of some attacking options but
on the day Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh was well marshalled by Tierney most of the
game but still was able to get free for two goals. She kept UCC in the game for
long stages with her free taking. Jennifer Barry, Kelly Hackett, Marie Callaghan,
Megan O’Connell and Doireann O’Sullivan all displayed an eagerness for the
battle but on the day, it was not to be enough.

 

So with the Jim Kennedy Cup in the bag, UL will now turn
thoughts to the O’Connor and for UCC they too will want to get back to winning
ways quickly and will also turn their thoughts on the O’Connor Cup preliminary
rounds

 

 

 

Teams:

University College
Limerick

J Kane, B McManus, S Tierney, L Ryan, J White 0-1, K
Kearney, C Cooney, L Scanlon, J Grant, C O’Sullivan 0-3 , R Leonard 0-2 , L
O’Sullivan, A Tighe 2-3, A Galvin, N O’Dea 0-7 (0-2F) Subs: C McCarthy 1-0, for J White (44) Siobhan Condon for C Cooney
(54)

University College
Cork

C Walsh, R Phelan, C Lynch, A Hickey, G Cashman, A Taylor, M
O’Callaghan 0-1, J Barry, M O’Connell, D O’Sulivan 0-1, L Ni Mhuircheartaigh
2-7 (0-5F), K O’Dea, A Hayes, K Hackett, A O’Sullivan 0-1 Subs: T McGuire for A Hayes (41), M O’Callaghan 0-1 for K O’Dea, S
O’Carroll 0-1 for K Hackett(45)

Referee: Michael
Duffy (Tipperary)

 

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