Students miss their friend and teammate
THE ATU Sligo Ladies Footballers head to this weekend’s Ladies HEC Championship finals weekend at MTU Cork with heavy hearts.
The panel and management are mourning the loss of teammate and friend
Ella O’Neill, pictured, who died unexpectedly last
Friday.
From
Waterford, the defender had become a key part of the team looking to make up for last year’s
Moynihan Cup final loss to DkIT (Dundalk Institute of Technology).
ATU Sligo face SETU Waterford tomorrow, Friday (12 noon) and a win here will put them in Saturday’s decider against either MICL (second XV) or University of Liverpool.
Ella O’Neill’s funeral took place on Tuesday, with squad members and management in attendance.
ATU Sligo Ladies Football team manager Gavin Cawley said that Ella’s untimely passing stunned the entire panel.
“Everyone was devasted when they got the unfortunate news.
Ella was a very talented player, over the last two years she would have started almost every game at corner-back.
“She was a very tenacious marker and the kind of defender that most forwards hate facing.
She always gave a 100% and would rarely miss a training session.”
He continued: “Ella loved playing Ladies Football and so we’ll try to put our best foot forward and see what happens in Cork.”
Three Sligo natives are in the ATU Sligo panel for the Moynihan Cup knockout stages – Lauren Fitzgerald and Laura Conway (both Eoghan Rua) plus Ruby Clark of Shamrock Gaels.
MTU Cork is also hosting the semi-finals and final of the O’Connor Cup, Lynch Cup, Giles Cup as well as the finals of the HEC Cup, Lagan Cup and Donaghy Cup.
A total of 13 third level institutions are involved.
Lily Vickers, Ella O’Neill (RIP), Niamh Beggan, Ellen O’Donoghue, Sarah Caulfield, Roisin Rodgers (c), Grace Esler, Laura Conway, Niamh Boyle, Deirbhile Lynch, Orla Hennessy, Dearbhla Rooney, Mia McDonald, Rebecca Higgins, Ella McNamara, Lauren Fitzgerald, Ellis Keane, Megan Clarke, Ciara Corrigan, Heather Kerins, Keeva Gillen, Laura O’Dea, Leah Nugent, Lily Monaghan, Roisin Lyons, Ruby Clarke, Shauna Cullen, Sarah Cosgrove, Saoirse Cunningham, Gráinne Flynn Management: Gavin Cawley (manager), Ronan McGarrigle (coach), Michaela Gaffney (selector),
Michael Harte
(Games
Development
Officer)