Dundalk IT's O'Reilly was “prepared to step up” when asked to captain the team

From starting out playing in Division 4 as a first year student in the colours of DKIT, to leading the team into a Division 2 campaign and Lynch Cup semi final this Friday, it is fair to say that Dundalk IT captain Caitlin O’Reilly has seen and achieved a lot in her 4 years in the college.

If you add up what DKIT have won in that time, it runs to quite an impressive trophy haul. “You could say it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster”, O’Reilly stated.

“During my college playing years playing in this team, I’m proud to have won the Division 4 league in Year 1, the Moynihan Cup in Year 2, and Division 3 league in Year 3 with the team.

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“It would be fantastic to wrap up Year 4 with another piece of silverware for the college. It has been a great experience playing with and against such talented players”. 

(The DkIT team will take on  MTU Cork this Friday. Picture by DKIT GAA)

She added: "We have a fantastic group of talented players on the team, and we have a great laugh together. Also, we have a good few Freshers on the team which is great to see. I hope those of us exiting after this season leave a good legacy for them to follow”.

Such players which were singled out by Caitlin O’Reilly include previous captains and current team mates, Holly Lambe Sally, and Gemma Grimes.

“Leaders like Holly Lambe Sally and Gemma Grimes before me set high standards and laid the groundwork for this year. When I was asked to captain the team, I felt prepared to step up.

“Having been part of the team for four years, I've seen players come and go as they finished college, but Karl (O’Connor) and the management team have been there pushing us from Day 1 and I understood the expectations”.

The Louth county panelist will lead her team into battle against MTU Cork this Friday (14 March) at Queen’s University, Belfast. MTU beat DKIT at the same stage of the competition last year, as well as repeating the trick when the teams met in the first round of this year’s competition.

Reflecting on that opening round defeat against MTU Cork, who beat DKIT by 2-10 to 2-6, Caitlin O’Reilly was brutally honest in her assessment.

“The early loss to MTU Cork was self-inflicted”, the O’Raghallaighs/St Oliver Plunketts club player admitted. “We didn't perform in the first half and with some injuries on the panel, it did have an impact.

“I really believe that if we had had another 5 minutes in the second half, we could have turned it around. Each player took the time to reflect on why we didn't perform and what we could improve on, and that made a huge difference moving forward”.

On what it will take to prevail this time around, Caitlin’s message was simple: “Continue what we’ve done since our last loss. Play our own game, together, as a team”. 

Since that opening round defeat, DKIT have built up some decent momentum, with back to back home wins over TUS Midlands and ATU Sligo sealing their semi final spot.

If they were to beat MTU Cork, DKIT would have to return the following day for the Lynch Cup decider against either UCD or Magee College.

To O’Reilly, winning the Lynch Cup would be massive for the college, and would cap off an incredible year, which has seen the Dundalk college men’s senior side scoop up the Trench Cup, and the Fresher’s side win their championship in recent weeks.

“I’d say winning the Lynch Cup would mean a lot to the college”, O’Reilly said. “It would not only bring joy to our team & management but also enhance the college's reputation in the sports community.

“It would definitely encourage more female players who might be hesitant to join. It would showcase the college as a supportive environment for women in sports, highlighting opportunities for growth and teamwork”.

She continued: “This success could also attract more students after the Leaving Cert, as they see the college's commitment to excellence in sports. It creates a positive image that can influence prospective students' decisions, making the college a more appealing choice for those interested in sport”.

Like any championship win, this would also mean so much to the parents of these players, with a huge cohort continuing to attend college matches, come hail, rain or shine, including Caitlin’s parents, Deirdre and Dave O’Reilly, with Mr O’Reilly having also coached the O’Raghallaghs/St Oliver Plunketts side to Intermediate championship success in 2023, which featured his daughter Caitlin at centre half forward.

“The players' parents have been incredibly supportive, showing up to the games and cheering us on regardless of venue or weather”, O’Reilly insisted.

“They love the college football community. Their presence really boosts our morale and creates a great atmosphere which makes a big difference for us on the field. They themselves have developed their relationships further”.

Or to quote GAA President Jarlaith Burns’ post All Ireland football speech, “If you’re a parent who has put up a set of GAA posts in your back garden, this belongs to you!”. DKIT take on MTU Cork in that Lynch Cup semi final this Friday, in what promises to be another thrilling clash in Belfast.