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TU Dublin’s senior ladiesfootball team made history with a memorable victory in the AIG O’Connor Cup , securing the university’s first-ever title after a thrilling 0-12 to 2-04 win over defending champions DCU Dóchas Éireann at the DCU Sportsgrounds.
In a gripping final played in front of a lively crowd, Ciara Smyth delivered a standout performance to claim player of the match honours, inspiring the University to a famous breakthrough triumph.
Fresh from their dramatic extra time semi final win over UCC Ladies Gaelic Football Team, TU Dublin entered the decider full of confidence. Smyth opened the scoring with an early free before captain Angela McGuigan , Niamh Divilly and Caoimhe Cregg all raised white flags to give TU Dublin a four point lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
DCU gradually settled and responded dramatically. Aisling Hanly struck the first major moment of the game in the 11th minute, palming a diagonal delivery to the net. She followed up with a superb point from a tight angle to level the contest.
TU Dublin quickly regrouped, with Smyth producing a fine solo score, while DCU-s Caoimhe Kilmurray and Smyth traded points as the intensity rose.
Hanly then struck again on 25 minutes, finishing clinically after a pass from captain Ruth Sargent, giving the reigning champions the lead for the first time. Yet TU Dublin refused to yield, with Smyth converting a free and Neala Byrne adding a point to leave the sides level at half time, 2-02 to 0-08.
TU Dublin began the second half with renewed purpose. Midfielder Eadaoin Crowe worked tirelessly to secure possession and drove forward for an important score, before inside forward Katie Murphy added two excellent points to stretch TU Dublin’s advantage to three.
A determined defensive effort then became the platform for victory. Led by Divilly, Sherin El Masry, and Ashling Nyhan, TU Dublin’s backline held firm against persistent DCU pressure.
The champions pushed back through scores from Aoife Cullen and Kilmurray, narrowing the gap to the minimum as the final quarter approached and setting up a tense finale.
With the contest hanging in the balance and both sides creating chances, TU Dublin found the decisive moment deep into added time. A sweeping counterattack ended with Neala Byrne splitting the posts, a vital score that ultimately sealed a famous and historic victory.
The final whistle sparked scenes of celebration as TU Dublin captured their first O-Connor Cup crown, a landmark achievement for the university and a testament to the squad’s resilience, teamwork and determination throughout the competition.
Scorers
TU Dublin: Ciara Smyth 0-4 (3f), Neala Byrne 0-2, Katie Murphy 0-2, Niamh Divilly 0-1, Eadaoin Crowe 0-1, Caoimhe Cregg 0-1, Angela McGuigan 0-1.
DCU Dóchas Éireann: Aisling Hanly 2-1, Caoimhe Kilmurray 0-2, Aoife Cullen 0-1.
Other Sporting News
There have been a number of other fantastic sporting achievements across the University in recent weeks. The TU Dublin Men-s Premier soccer team were crowned CUFAI Eustace Cup champions following an impressive 2 to 1 victory over SETU Carlow Soccer Team at Athlone Town Stadium, with goals from Matthew O-Brien and Ryan Markey securing the trophy.
In women’s soccer, TU Dublin students Katie Lovely , Niamh Richardson , Leah Donnelly and Grace Kelly have been selected for the Irish Colleges and Universities representative team to face the Irish Defence Forces at Pearse Park.
TU Dublin’s powerlifting club also enjoyed a hugely successful outing at the University Nationals, securing seven podium finishes and six gold medals, as well as being crowned Best University Overall. Lan Gaffney was named Overall Best Female Lifter.
Meanwhile, the TU Dublin athletics club celebrated a historic moment by winning gold in the men-s 4x200m relay at the Indoor Athletics Intervarsities for the first time. The women’s relay team also impressed with a second-place finish in the 4x200m relay. Individual highlights included Aobh Forde finishing second in the 200m, Lauren Duffy finishing second in the high jump and Saoirse Kennedy finishing third in the 1500m.
