Dundalk IT’s ladies team exited the HEC Lynch Cup against DCU

Dundalk IT’s ladies team exited the HEC Lynch Cup at the quarter final stage following this defeat to DCU on Monday night last in Dublin.

Last week, both colleges had battled it out for a place in the semi final in DKIT, where the home side bravely came back off the canvas to force extra time, having trailed by five points on several occasions, showing tremendous mental strength.

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Just a few minutes into extra time, the game was forced to be abandoned following an injury to DKIT’s Vanessa Brennan, meaning that the quarter final was rescheduled for the following week.

For this quarter final, DKIT had to do battle without first choice midfield pairing of Vanessa Brennan and Armagh’s Edel Hagney, meaning that the Dundalk side were forced to reshuffle the pack.

Early on, it was DCU who came out of the traps, with their ability to move the ball swiftly in the transition, and get in behind the DKIT cover at will, leading by 1-5 to 0-1 after the first quarter.

Over the hour, DCU scored 0-12 of their 4-16 tally from turnovers, and after Marian Nolan and Hannah McPhilips fired over early points, a swift DCU move in the transition saw Marian Nolan crash the ball off the crossbar, while Aoife Kavanagh saw her goal bound strike saved by DKIT custodian Cara Lynch, whose backs were very much to the wall at this point.

Players like St Patricks’ Sophie Grey and Jasmine Neacy from St Mochtas shone out here, while Crossmaglen Rangers’ Caoimhe Dooley once again epitomised that air of defiance, leading the charge at the back, as did Monaghan player Tara Reneghan at centre half back.

Casey Adamson fired over DCU’s third point, before DKIT eventually got off the mark thanks to a Mischa Rooney free.

Marian Nolan who saw plenty of the ball for DCU, set up Éabha Mogan for a fourth point, before the Dublin college made their supremacy tell on the scoreboard, when Aoife Kavanagh set up Ellen McGuire to slot low to the DKIT net, as DCU continued to move the ball through the hands, as DKIT struggled to handle their forward runs.

Another turnover led to Ellen Kelliher setting up Eimear Tracey for another white flag, as DCU led by 1-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.

DKIT did manage to gain a foothold, with back to back scores through Roche Emmets’ Abi Keenan, with St Patricks’ Aisling Dunne deserving a noteworthy mention, having had a hand in both scores. Keenan’s first strike saw Dunne regain possession in a move which saw Stephanie Cunningham set up the Roche attacker.

The next score saw Dunne and Naoise McGeeney collect a DCU kickout before Keenan fired over her second and DKIT’s third point, to leave five between the sides in the 17^th minute.

However, DCU upped the intensity to outscore DKIT by 0-4 to 0-1 to take a nine point lead with five minutes left until the break.

Marian Nolan kicked back to back points, with the first strike bouncing over the bar, before Eimear Treacy and Éabha Mogan kept the DCU scoreboard ticking.

Sandwiched in between that DCU scoring spree was a fine strike by Meath ladies player Rachel Casserly, thanks to more good work by Abi Keenan.

Just before the break, the Dundalk college were handed a lifeline, when first half sub Isabelle Duignan set up the marauding Rachel Casserly, who danced in between DCU defenders, before firing the ball home to leave six between the sides at the break at 1-10 to 1-4.

Second Half:

Just a few minutes after the restart, DKIT set the cat amongst the pigeons, when they scored 1-2 without reply to leave them just a point within arrears, five minutes into the second half.

Rachel Casserly glided through the DCU cover for another point straight from the throw in, before the St Ultans’ club player set up Abi Keenan for her third point from play.

DKIT then gave their opponents a real scare, when Dreadnots’ Stephanie Cunningham poked the ball to the DCU net after a Rachel Casserly free dropped short, leaving DKIT trailing by just that one point at 1-10 to 2-6.

However, DCU regained their composure, winning five out of 11 on DKIT’s kickout in the second half, with Ellen McGuire, Casey Adamson and Hannah McPhilips getting plenty of possession.

The Dublin college scored 2-3 without reply, with Eimear Treacy and Marian Nolan firing home majors, while Aoife Kavanagh (2) and Treacy left them 3-13 to 2-6 to the good.

Just before the end of the third quarter, DKIT fought back, thanks to more magic from Rachel Casserly. The Meath county player collected a Cara Lynch kickout, before setting off on a barnstorming run as she skipped through several DCU defenders, before crashing the ball to the net to claw the gap back to seven. A wonderful individual goal.

Hannah McPhilips and Aoife Kavanagh traded scores with DKIT pair Mischa Rooney (f) and Abi Keenan to leave the scoreboard at 3-15 to 3-8 with seven minutes remaining.

Casserly finished with 23 possessions for DKIT, while St Kevins’ dual player Lucy Sheridan was outstanding on the night with 22 touches, getting her hands to several kickouts, as well as running at the opposition at every opportunity, while Abi Keenan touched the ball 17 times over the hour.

Sheridan kicked over from play to close the gap to six, as DKIT pressed up on their opponents and threw the kitchen sink at them.

Rachel Casserly fired over a close range free which had goal on her mind, but it was DCU who sealed the deal with a late 1-1, through Aoife Kavanagh (f) following a harsh 3v3 breach, before Marian Nolan slotted home her college’s fourth goal, which put on slightly unfair margin between the sides at the finish, in a game where DKIT fought until the bitter end.

DKIT: Cara Lynch; Sophie Grey, Caoimhe Dooley, Jasmine Neacy; Aisling Dunne, Tara Reneghan, Emma O’Sullivan; Ella Thomson, Alexandra Meehan; Lucy Sheridan (0-1), Abi Keenan (0-4), Naoise McGeeney; Rachel Casserly (2-3) (1f), Mischa Rooney (0-2) (2f), Stephanie Cunningham (1-0).

Subs: Isabella Duignan for Thomson (25), Marcella Molloy for McGeeney (HT), Lauren Briscoe for Dunne (47), Moya Rafferty for Cunningham (55).

DCU: Eabha Dowd; Brenda Carr, Cara Ware, Olivia Monaghan; Sarah Carragher, Ellen Kelliher, Cáit Phelan; Ellen McGuire (1-0), Casey Adamson (0-1); Marian Nolan (2-2), Aoife Kavanagh (0-5) (2f), Hannah McPhilips (0-2); Éabha Mogan (0-2), Eimear Treacy (1-4), Laura O’Connor.

Subs: Helen Lenehan for Treacy (40), Aoife Gibbons for Adamson (50), Sarah Maguire for Carragher (58).

Referee: Raymond McBride (Co Dublin).