Foxe fires U.C.D. to title
Wexford ace player of match in Purcell final
THE ONE Wexford player in with a chance of winning a prestigious Ashbourne Cup third level colleges camogie medal at the W.I.T. Arena in Carriganore on Sunday was denied that honour in an all-Munster final.
Sorcha Foley from Buffers Alley – daughter of Matty, the former Wexford hurler, and Mary, one of the county’s Leinster G.A.A. Council representatives – was part of the U.C.C. squad in their 3-14 to 0-12 loss to a powerful University of Limerick outfit, who became the fifth college to complete a marvellous five-in-a-row.
Both of the losing semi-finalists also had some familiar faces on board, with hosts W.I.T. including Joanne Dillon (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) and Anais Curran (Oulart-The Ballagh), while D.C.U. boasted the services of the O’Connor sisters, Sarah and Ciara, plus their St. Martin’s team-mates Lettie Whelan and Anna Hennessy, along with Lauren Murphy of St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier.
However, Slaneysiders didn’t return home empty-handed after a weekend jam-packed with camogie.
There was a player of the match accolade for Chloe Foxe from St.
Martin’s as she inspired U.C.D. to a 1-6 to 0-5 victory over Technological University Dublin in the Purcell Cup (second division) decider.
Foxe picked off the first two points of this low-scoring contest, and she ended with five to her credit as her free-taking under heavy pressure was a joy to behold.
She was one of five Wexford players listed on the triumphant squad, along with Una Sinnott from Craanford-Monaseed, Jessie Harding of St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier, plus Bunclody duo Ciara Carroll and Kate Kirwan.
Meanwhile, Foxe came up against a familiar face in the final, as the sole local player on the T.U. Dublin squad was her St. Martin’s team-mate, Lisa Firman.
There was a Wexford interest also in the third grade Fr. Meachair Cup final, with another medal brought home by Muireann Nic Corcráin from Buffers Alley as Trinity College collected the title with a 0-13 to 0-8 dismissal of the U.C.D. second team.
There was a very strong Model county crew with the beaten finalists, comprising Ciara Carroll of Bunclody, who also featured on their Purcell squad, as well as Eimear Murphy (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown), Katie O’Toole (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Katie Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh), Lydia Watchorn (Bunclody), and Craanford-Monaseed pair Orla Montague and Grace O’Halloran.
The U.C.C. second string didn’t make it beyond the semi-final stage in this competition, but they too had a very large Wexford contingent on board: St. Martin’s trio Aine Ennis, Mary Barrett and Niamh Dunne, plus Emma Sweeney (Glynn-Barntown), Leanne Cullen (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Mikaela Lanigan (St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier) and Róisín Dillon (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).
The Uí Mhaolagáin Cup was the first of the four finals to be played over the weekend, and two locals were celebrating at the end after Marino Institute of Education overcame MIC St. Pat’s Thurles, the holders, by 6-8 to 3-11 in a high-scoring thriller.
Orla Sinnott from Ferns St. Aidan’s converted a couple of points from frees for the victors, and she was joined in their successful quest for honours by Aoife McCrea (Rapparees).
The defeated finalists included Rachel Sinnott (Oulart-The Ballagh)
and Kenzie O’Leary (Rathnure), with the game producing arguably the best camogie of the entire weekend.