Big involvement on the third level front

THE GRAND total of 26 Wexford players were involved with their colleges in the closing stages of the various third level camogie competitions recently.

The Mallow G.A.A. complex in north Cork played host to the main events on the weekend of February 9 and 10, with 15 locals in action.

U.L. defeated U.C.C. by 3-8 to 0-8 to clinch the main title, the Ashbourne Cup, for the fourth year on the trot, and the vanquished squad included Sorcha Foley of Buffers Alley.

The two beaten semi-finalists also featured Wexford players, with Katie Gallagher (Oulart-The Ballagh) on the D.C.U. squad, while W.I.T. included Chloe Cashe (Glynn-Barntown), Ellen Roche and Marie Kennedy (Naomh Eanna), Joanne Dillon (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) and Anais Curran (Oulart-The Ballagh).

Linda Bolger of St. Martin’s played a starring captain’s role for Maynooth University in their nail-biting 1-11 to 1-10 win over N.U.I.G. in the final of the Purcell Cup, and the successful squad also featured Clodagh Jackman (Glynn-Barntown), Aoife Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh), Liza Bates (Duffry Rovers) and Emma Furlong (Castletown-Liam Mellows).

The Fr. Meaghair Cup final pitted two Wexford players on opposing sides, with Aoife Curran of Craanford-Monaseed and Athlone I.T. defeating Muireann Nic Corcráin (Buffers Alley and Trinity College) by 1-11 to 1-4.

And there was a local winner in the Ó Maolagáin Cup final too, because Rachel Sinnott (Oulart-The Ballagh) helped the Thurles campus of Mary Immaculate College to a 5-14 to 3-6 success at the expense of Sligo I.T.

The various shield finals were held mid-week, with strong Wexford involvement in both the Ashbourne and Purcell deciders.

Kate Devereux of Rathgarogue-Cushinstown was part of the Mary Immaculate (Limerick) set-up in their 3-10 to 1-9 win against a U.C.D. side featuring Chloe Foxe (St. Martin’s), Una Sinnott (Craanford-Monaseed) and Jessie Harding (St. Ibar’s/ Shelmalier).

A late goal from a free gave I.T. Carlow a slender 1-17 to 1-6 victory against Garda College in the Purcell decider, with Aoife Guiney (Rathnure), Róisín Kelly (Bunclody) and Ciara Storey (Oulart-The Ballagh) on the triumphant team.

The Templemore crew included Farren Byrne (Rathnure), Emma Walsh (Glynn-Barntown), Aoife Hickey (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy) and Jenny Logue (Glynn-BarnThe town).