By JOHN FALLON
DCU Dóchas Éireann will bid to capture the AIG O’Connor Cup for the third year in succession when they take on UCC in a repeat of last year’s final at Queen’s University this Saturday afternoon (3pm).
But two of the players who helped them retain the crown a year ago will this time being lining out for the opposition with Emma Morrissey and Roisin Ennis hoping to inspire UCC to their first O’Connor Cup title since 2012.
Morrissey, who scored eight points in UCC’s 3-15 to 2-7 semi-final win over University of Galway, said it was unusual for Ennis and herself to now try to plot the downfall of DCU.
“The two of us have been playing together for the last four years and we know a lot of the girls on the other side.
“We’re here with these girls now from UCC and we have created new bonds and new friendships. We’re out here and we’re playing together. So far it’s looking so good, so we’ll take that,” she said.
UCC led by 2-10 to 2-5 at the break and then pushed on from there but manager Joe Carroll said they know they will need to be on top of their game to dethrone the champions and capture the title for the fourth time.
“In the first half, a few times it was a small bit ropey,” said Carroll. “We scored a goal up this end and they got a goal down the other end. In fairness, I think we steadied the ship a bit after that. I’d be very pleased with our second half, in particular.
“They only got two points in the second half, which was very good and we were better defensively. We weren’t as open as we were in the first half. It’s great to get to a final and it would be fabulous to win it.”
Champions DCU Dóchas Éireann, who are bidding for their seventh O’Connor Cup title and second three-in-a-row success, saw off the challenge of Ulster University by 2-10 to 0-9 in their semi-final.
A goal from Ruth Sargent helped the champions lead by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break and they sealed their place in the final when Hannah McGinnis found the net.
“Happy to be in another final but we’ve a massive job ahead of us,” said DCU manager Stephen Duff. “Delighted to be in another final, but a lot to improve. For us, this team, this is the first time they’ve played together all year.
“We’ve had injuries and people away on placements and stuff like that. That’s college football. What we’ve asked for, for our girls, is that they just enjoy their college experience. We’re so lucky to have the players that we have and the structures we have around us.
“What we just try and do is just take them away from the stress of inter-county and let them enjoy their college football.”
2025 AIG Ladies HEC Championship Results:
Friday, March 14th:
AIG Donaghy Cup Final
ATU Galway 4-9 Marino 0-10
AIG Lynch Cup semi-finals
UU Magee 4-10 UCD 2 4-12
MTU Cork 2-15 DKIT 2-7
AIG Giles Cup semi-finals
UCD 4-7 V DCU DÉ2 1-7
MICL 1-15 v MU 1-8
AIG O’Connor Cup semi-finals
UCC 3-15 UG 2-7
DCU DÉ 2-10 UU Belfast 0-9
Saturday 15th March:
AIG Giles Cup Final; MIC Limerick v UCD; 11am – Live on LGFA YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DIehyc
AIG Lynch Cup Final; MTU Cork v UCD (2), 1pm – Live on LGFA YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DIehyc
AIG O’Connor Cup Final; DCU Dóchas Éireann v UCC, 3pm – Live on Spórt TG4 YouTube: https://bit.ly/3DIvHLd
