Dundalk IT's Lynch Cup journey comes to an end
Dundalk IT 2-7 MTU Cork 2-15
Dundalk IT's Lynch Cup journey ended at the semi final stage as they lost out to eventual winners MTU Cork last Friday morning last.
Ultimately, the better team won on the day, as the Cork university led from the first to last minutes of this contest, as DKIT struggled to deal with their opponents’ slick movements of the ball through the hands when in possession, punishing DKIT in the transition, with a number of their scores emanating from turnovers.
In fact, Rachel Casserly’s 7th minute equalising point was as close as DKIT came to their opponents, who rattled off three points without reply to lead 0-4 to 0-1 by the end the opening quarter, and 1-8 to 0-2 at half time.
Key to this was the performance of Cork county panellist Katie O’Driscoll, whose lung bursting runs through the DKIT centre were key to a number of their scores. O’Driscoll’s early strike straight from the throw up was cancelled out by St Ultan’s Rachel Casserly, who finished with 2-5 to her credit, keeping DKIT in the contest at times.
In the first half, MTU made the most of that wind advantage, scoring 1-8 from 11 shots at the posts, and white flags from Ava Looney (f), Katie O’Driscoll, and Maeve Daly gave them that 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
While DKIT struggled to get any rhythm, MTU continued to force them to cough up possession, with captain Rachel Evans organising a defence at centre half, and supported by wing backs Chloe Branahan and Ellen Moore.
These turnovers led to Katie O’Driscoll setting up Ava Looney to drive the ball to the DKIT net for 1-4 to 0-1 after 19 minutes. Rachel Evans set up Kayleigh McGlashan for another point, before O’Driscoll and Looney (f) left MTU Cork nine clear by the 25th minute.
Rachel Casserly (f) did end DKIT’s scoring drought, but the Dundalk college knew they had a mountain to climb at the switch of ends.
Second Half:
To their credit, DKIT refused to give up. Neat play by Kilkerley’s Ciara Lennon set up Rachel Casserly to point from play, either side of MTU points from Kayleigh McGlashan and Ava Looney.
In the second half, the Dundalk college introduced Sophie Grey into their defence, moving Vanessa Brennan into the middle sector, which allowed them to move up the pitch with much more conviction in that second period.
Six minutes after the restart, DKIT’s Gemma Grimes who finished with 22 possessions over the hour, latched onto a mix up in the MTU Cork backline, to earn a penalty for her side. However, MTU’s Molly Murphy parried away the resultant spot kick by Abi Keenan.
Despite this, DKIT were awarded another penalty minutes later, with Gemma Grimes once again upended when through on goal.
Rachel Casserly assumed responsibility and dispatched the penalty to the bottom corner, to give DKIT a lifeline, nine minutes after the restart, making it 1-10 to 1-3.
Despite this minor setback, MTU regained their composure, with Katie O’Driscoll and Ava Looney stretching that lead out to nine again after 41 minutes.
But DKIT were not done yet, neat build up saw Megan Benson find Rachel Casserly, who crashed the ball to the net to narrow the gap to six, at 1-12 to 2-3 at the end of the third quarter.
However, it is the hope that kills you, as DKIT’s hopes were quickly dealt huge blows, when captain Caitlin O’Reilly was somewhat harshly brandished a yellow card and sin bin by referee Shane Curley a few minutes after Casserly’s second major.
O’Reilly’s county team mate Holly Lambe Sally suffered the same fate minutes later, which stymied DKIT in terms of momentum.
These sin bins were not a reflection on the performances of O’Reilly and Lambe Sally on the day, with both players epitomising the fighting spirit and defiance which sums up the college’s success over recent years, including league wins in Division 3 and 4, and that memorable victory in the Moynahan Cup in 2023.
Along with O’Reilly and Lambe Sally, Monaghan pair Tara Reneghan and Rosana O’Neill can also hold their heads high with their performances, producing key turnovers in their backline, and driving forward with the ball at every opportunity, while Ciara Gilsenan battled hard for the DKIT cause, finished with 35 possessions.
St Patrick’s player Sophie Grey, younger sister of Louth county star Leonard, can also be satisfied with her cameo, following her introduction from the bench.
However, there can be no disputing who deserved to win this semi final, as MTU Cork made the most of their numerical advantage to outscore DKIT by 1-3 to 0-4 in the closing stages to seal an eight point victory.
With DKIT going for broke and chasing the game, MTU picked them off, with sub Muireann Fitzpatrick registering their second goal, while Ava Looney, Eimear Boland and Kayleigh McGlashan tagged on late scores.
Three further strikes from Rachel Casserly, along with neat efforts from Ciara Lennon and St Kevins’ Aisling Maguire concluded the scoring for DKIT, who lost out at the semi final of the Lynch Cup for the second year running, with MTU Cork going on to win the Lynch Cup the next day, beating UCD’s second team in the final, a UCD team which included St Fechins’ Ava Briscoe and Cooley Kickhams’ Lucy White.
Dundalk IT: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Holly Lambe Sally, Vanessa Brennan, Tara Reneghan; Eimear Finnegan, Caitlin O’Reilly, Rosana O’Neill; Megan Benson, Ciara Gilsenan; Abby Ryan, Gemma Grimes, Abi Keenan; Ciara Lennon (0-1), Rachel Casserly (2-5) (1f), Aisling Maguire (0-1).
Subs: Sophie Grey for Ryan (HT).
MTU Cork: Molly Murphy; Siobhan Callanan, Molly Burke, Margaret Collins; Chloe Branahan, Rachel Evans, Ellen Moore; Aoife Cummins, Katie O’Driscoll (0-5); Leah Quane, Kayleigh McGlashan (0-3), Shannon Morrissey; Mave Daly (0-1), Ava Looney (1-5) (4f), Ruth Shanley.
Subs: Izzy Maher for Cummins (36), Cliona McTaggart for Daly (45), Muireann Fitzpatrick (1-0) for Shanley (50) Eimear Boland (0-1) for Looney (53).
Referee: Shane Curley (Co Galway).