Poignant win for ATU Sligo Ladies
Last weekend’s Moynihan Cup win is dedicated to late teammate Ella O’Neill as Gavin Cawley’s charges record two victories in 24 hours
ATU SLIGO’S Ladies Footballers are the Ladies HEC Moynihan Cup champions for 2024, a result that meant so much for the players, who wonderfully honoured the memory of their teammate Ella O’Neill on Saturday last in Cork.
The Waterford native died suddenly on the Friday before last – members of the squad and team management attended her funeral on Tuesday of last week. Three days later they were at the MTU Cork campus for last Friday’s Moynihan Cup semi-final against SETU Waterford.
They won that semi-final by 11 points, 4-7 to 1-5, as goals from Rebecca Higgins (2), Mia McDonald and Ellis Keane made the difference.
The following day, Saturday, ATU Sligo took on the second XV of Mary Immaculate College Limerick (MICL), who had beaten University of Liverpool in the other semi-final.
Despite conceding an early goal when St Farnan’s and Sligo Rachel O’Brien netted for MICL, ATU Sligo stuck to their task and were only a point down at the break, 1-4 to 0-6.
Matters were tight in the second-half, too, and ATU Sligo needed a major score – Mia McDonald’s goal – to go in front, 1-8 to 1-5, as late points from the goalscorer and team captain Roisin Rodgers got ATU Sligo over the line.
ATU Sligo’s Orla Hennessy was chosen as the final’s MVP (Most Valuable Player). The ATU Sligo squad featured three players from Sligo, Lauren Fitzgerald (Eoghan Rua), Laura Conway (Eoghan Rua) and Ruby Clark (Shamrock Gaels).
Not only did this win make up for last year’s Moynihan Cup final loss to DkIT – a one-point defeat indoors at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome – the outcome was a tribute to the late Ella O’Neill.
Two games in 24 hours and the emotional rollercoaster of the players having to cope with the unexpected passing of their teammate and friend was a difficult experience for all involved according to ATU Sligo manager Gavin Cawley.
The Sligo man stated: “In many ways after what happened sport became irrelevant but when the semi-final came around I was hoping
ATU Sligo Ladies Football squad: 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)
we’d win and reach the final.
“That strong performance against SETU Waterford set us up for the next day but playing two games in that short time span takes its toll.
“I got a sense before the semi-final that the players were focused – I didn’t want to put additional pressure on them that they had to do it for Ella but I think they took it upon themselves to make that effort.”
In the final the ATU Sligo players wore black and white ribbons in their hair to remember Ella O’Neill.
Afterwards, following the trophy presentation, the players sang Travelin’ Soldier, which was Ella O’Neill’s favourite song, with her siblings, Darragh and Aoife, joining the group for the spontaneous rendition of the song. Ella O’Neill’s parents, JJ and Josephine, were also in attendance.
Team captain Roisin Rodgers, speaking to Ocean FM, said that the players vowed to win the Moynihan Cup for their teammate. “We set out the challenge that we wanted to do it for her,” said the Donegal player.
“We felt such relief – there was a weight taken off our shoulders – when we lifted the cup.”
Meanwhile, Jade Lyons (Shamrock Gaels and Sligo) was part of the DCU Dóchas Éireann squad that retained the Ladies HEC O’Connor Cup last Saturday.
DCU Dóchas Éireann were twopoint winners over University College Cork, 2-16 to 2-14, in a thrilling final that went to extra-time. The winners’ semi-final also went to extra-time.
The number of times that ATU Sligo have contested the Moynihan Cup final.